Delta Air Lines has reached an agreement to take over two gates at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta from bankrupt Spirit Airlines, according to bankruptcy court documents. Delta has offered $12 million for Gates C4 and C6, the ticketing lobby and support space. Delta was competing with another unnamed airline, according to case documents filed in June.  

No other bidder has been named so far, and the deadline for any objections to the deal elapsed on July 1. The court hearing to finalize the sale is scheduled for July 8. So long as there are no changes, Delta will take over the lease until 2031. Facilities include the Concourse C gates as well as the ticketing lobby, check-in counters and support areas associated with C4 and C6.

Delta is buying only the leasehold rights to Spirit’s assets, not the gates themselves, according to news reports. The city of Atlanta actually owns the airport, so another carrier may have the opportunity to buy these gates outright in 2031. Since Delta already controls roughly 80% of Atlanta’s traffic, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may step in to prevent an extension.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has already expressed concern over the lack of service from affordable air carriers following  Spirit’s ceasing operations. He has said that the FAA would even consider shutting down gates up for auction at airports like LaGuardia Airport in New York  if a low-cost carrier could not purchase them from Spirit.