Exhibit 10.3 (a)

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IN A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST UNDER
RULE 24b-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED. THE SYMBOL
“[***]” IN THIS EXHIBIT INDICATES THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN OMITTED.

Amendment No. 9

to the A318/A319 Purchase Agreement
dated as of March 10, 2000

between

AVSA, S.A.R.L.

and

Frontier Airlines, Inc.

This Amendment No. 9 (hereinafter referred to as the “Amendment”) is entered
into as of February 16, 2006, between AVSA, S.A.R.L., a société à responsabilité
limitée organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of France, having
its registered office located at 2, Rond-Point Maurice Bellonte, 31700 Blagnac,
France (hereinafter referred to as the “Seller”), and Frontier Airlines, Inc., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Colorado,
United States of America, having its principal corporate offices located at 7001
Tower Road, Denver, CO 80249-7312 USA (hereinafter referred to as the “Buyer”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Buyer and the Seller entered into an A318/A319 Purchase Agreement,
dated as of March 10, 2000, relating to the sale by the Seller and the purchase
by the Buyer of certain Airbus A318-100 and A319-100 aircraft, which, together
with all Exhibits, Appendixes and Letter Agreements attached thereto and as
amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of July 17, 2000, Amendment No. 2, dated as
of November 6, 2000, Amendment No. 3, dated as of June 18, 2001, Amendment No.
4, dated as of November 30, 2001, Amendment No. 5, dated as of March 8, 2002,
Amendment No. 6, dated as of March 19, 2002, Amendment No. 7, dated as of June
3, 2002 and Amendment No. 8 dated as of August 20, 2003, is hereinafter called
the “Agreement,” pursuant to which eleven (11) Additional A319 Aircraft remain
to be delivered.

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WHEREAS, the Buyer and the Seller wish to amend the Agreement to convert certain
of the aircraft to be delivered from one model to another, to modify the
delivery schedule set forth in the Agreement, to provide for the Buyer’s firm
order of six (6) firmly ordered aircraft that will be additional to those
already firmly ordered and to provide certain other changes in the terms and
conditions of the Agreement, all as provided below.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS

Capitalized items used herein and not otherwise defined herein will have the
meanings assigned to them in the Agreement. The terms “herein,” “hereof” and
“hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Amendment.

 

 

1.

CLAUSE 9: DELIVERY SCHEDULE

 

 

1.1

Conversion into A318 Aircraft

 

 

 

The parties agree that four (4) Additional A319 Aircraft scheduled to be
delivered in [***] 2007, [***] 2007, [***] 2007 and [***] 2007 will be converted
to four (4) A318-100 aircraft (the “Converted A318 Aircraft”) for delivery as
follows: one in each of the months of [***] 2007, [***] 2007, [***] 2007 and
[***] 2007.

 

 

 

Terms and conditions applicable to A318 Aircraft will apply to the Converted
A318 Aircraft, except to the extent otherwise set forth in this Amendment.

 

 

1.2

Conversion into A320 Aircraft

 

 

 

The parties agree that four (4) Additional A319 Aircraft scheduled to be
delivered in [***] 2007, [***] 2007, [***] 2008 and [***] 2008 will be converted
to A320 Aircraft (the “Converted A320 Aircraft”) for delivery as follows: one
(1) in each of [***] 2008, [***] 2008, [***] 2009, [***] 2009.

 

 

 

Terms and conditions applicable to A320 Aircraft will apply to the Converted
A320 Aircraft, except if and to the extent otherwise set forth in this
Amendment.

 

 

1.3

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

 

 

The Buyer will purchase six (6) Purchase Right Aircraft as A320-200 aircraft
(the “Incremental A320 Aircraft”) for delivery as follows: one (1) in each of
[***] 2009, [***] 2009, [***] 2009, [***] 2010, [***] 2010, [***] 2010.

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Terms and conditions applicable to A320 Aircraft will apply to the Incremental
A320 Aircraft, except if and to the extent otherwise set forth in this
Amendment.

 

 

1.4

Revised Delivery Schedule

 

 

 

As a consequence of Paragraphs 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 above, the delivery schedule set
forth in Clause 9.1.1 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the
following schedule according to which the Aircraft remaining will be delivered:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircraft
No.

 

A/C ID

 

Aircraft Type

 

Delivery

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

166890

 

Additional A319 Aircraft

 

[***]

2006

 

23

 

166891

 

Additional A319 Aircraft

 

[***]

2006

 

24

 

166892

 

Additional A319 Aircraft

 

[***]

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

166893

 

Converted A318 Aircraft

 

[***]

2007

 

26

 

166894

 

Converted A318 Aircraft

 

[***]

2007

 

27

 

166895

 

Converted A318 Aircraft

 

[***]

2007

 

28

 

166896

 

Converted A318 Aircraft

 

[***]

2007

 

29

 

 

 

Converted A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2008

 

30

 

 

 

Converted A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

Converted A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2009

 

32

 

 

 

Converted A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2009

 

33

 

 

 

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2009

 

34

 

 

 

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2009

 

35

 

 

 

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2009

 

36

 

 

 

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2010

 

37

 

 

 

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2010

 

38

 

 

 

Incremental A320 Aircraft

 

[***]

2010

 

 

 

UNQUOTE

 

 

2.

A320 [***]

 

 

 

The Seller grants the Buyer the right to [***] of the Incremental A320 Aircraft
scheduled for Delivery in [***] and [***] (the “[***]”), subject to the
following terms and conditions:

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(i)

The Buyer may exercise each [***] individually by giving written notice to the
Seller of its wish to do so by written notice at least [***] months prior to
[***]. This notice will state the Buyer’s desired [***], subject to the
condition in Paragraph 2(ii) below.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

A [***] will entitle the Buyer to [***] applicable Incremental A320 Aircraft
[***],[***] Incremental A320 Aircraft is [***]. Promptly after receipt of the
Buyer’s notice the Seller will offer the Buyer [***], subject to the Seller’s
commercial and industrial constraints. The Buyer will accept [***] by written
notice to the Seller within five (5) Working Days after receipt of the Seller’s
notice.

 

 

 

 

(iii)

In respect of each Incremental A320 Aircraft for which the Buyer fails to
exercise a [***] in time to meet the conditions set forth in Paragraph 2(i)
above, such [***] will be deemed waived and the [***].

 

 

 

3.

[***] CONCESSIONS

 

 

 

 

The Seller grants the Buyer a discount off the price of [***] of the Additional
A319 Aircraft remaining to be delivered, Converted A320 Aircraft and Incremental
A320 Aircraft. This discount is [***] of the price of the [***] set forth in the
[***], the price catalog published by the Manufacturer that applies to [***].

 

 

 

This concession will apply so long as the Buyer respects the [***] requirement
specified in [***].

 

 

 

4.

A319/A320 PRICE CONCESSIONS

 

 

 

4.1

The Seller will provide the Buyer with the following credits for Additional A319
Aircraft, Converted A320 Aircraft and Incremental A320 Aircraft, to be referred
to collectively as the “Amendment 9 A319/A320 Credits”:

 

 

 

 

(i)

In respect only of each of the [***] Aircraft for which delivery months are set
forth in Paragraph 1.4 herein, an “[***] Credit Memorandum” of [***], in
addition to any other credits in the Agreement applicable to Additional [***]
Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

In respect only of each of the [***] Aircraft for which delivery months are set
forth in Paragraph 1.4 herein, an “[***] Credit Memorandum” of [***] in addition
to any other credits in the Agreement applicable to [***] Aircraft.

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(iii)

In respect only of each of the [***] Aircraft for which delivery months are set
forth in Paragraph 1.4 herein, an [***] of [***], in addition to any other
credits in the Agreement applicable to [***] Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

(iv)

In respect only of each of the [***] Aircraft for which delivery months are set
forth in Paragraph 1.4 herein, an [***] credit memorandum of [***], in addition
to any other credits in the Agreement applicable to [***] Aircraft.

 

 

 

4.2

Amendment 9 A319/A320 Credits are quoted at January 2003 delivery conditions and
are subject to escalation in accordance with the Seller Price Revision Formula
in Exhibit 2 to Amendment No. 8 to the Agreement. At the Buyer’s option, each
Amendment 9 A319/A320 Credit will be (i) applied by the Seller against the Final
Contract Price of the Additional A319 Aircraft, Converted A320 Aircraft or
Incremental A320 Aircraft, as applicable, on Delivery thereof or (ii) applied by
the Buyer on or after such Delivery against the purchase of product support
related goods and services from the Seller or its Affiliates.

 

 

 

4.3

The Seller will train [***] of the Buyer’s flight crews for each of the [***]
Aircraft, for up to a total [***] such crews. No other training support
otherwise provided in the Agreement will apply to the [***] Aircraft.

 

 

 

In addition, however, the Buyer grants the Seller the right to [***].[***] will
be [***] at a time and location mutually agreeable to the Buyer and the [***].
The [***] will be available in [***] Aircraft; however, such [***] of the
applicable [***] Aircraft.

 

 

4.4

It is understood that no field service provided on a per-Aircraft basis will
apply to the [***] Aircraft.

 

 

5.

A318 PRICES

 

 

5.1

In respect of each of the four (4) Converted A318 Aircraft, Clause 3.1.1 of the
Agreement is deleted and replaced with the following text between the words
QUOTE and UNQUOTE:

 

 

 

QUOTE

 

 

 

3.1.1

Converted A318 Aircraft

 

 

 

 

 

The Base Price of each Converted A318 Aircraft is the sum of

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(i)

the Base Price of the Converted A318 Aircraft (as such aircraft is defined in
the A318 Standard Specification, excluding Buyer Furnished Equipment and SCNs),
at delivery conditions prevailing in January 2003, which is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[***], and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

the Base Price of any and all SCNs mutually agreed upon prior to the signature
of Amendment No. 9 to this Agreement, at delivery conditions prevailing in
January 2003, which is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[***].

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNQUOTE

 

 

 

5.2

In respect of each of the four (4) Converted A318 Aircraft, Clause 3.2 of the
Agreement is deleted and replaced by the following text between the words QUOTE
and UNQUOTE:

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTE

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Final Contract Price

 

 

 

 

 

3.2.1

 

The Final Contract Price of a Converted A318 Aircraft will be the sum of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

the Base Price of the Converted A318 Aircraft, as adjusted to the Delivery Date
of such Aircraft in accordance with the Seller Price Revision Formula set forth
in Exhibit 2 to Amendment No. 8 to the Agreement;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

the price (as of delivery conditions prevailing in January 2003) of any SCNs for
Converted A318 Aircraft entered into after the date of execution of this
Agreement, as adjusted to the Delivery Date in accordance with the Seller Price
Revision Formula set forth in Exhibit 2 to Amendment No. 8 to the Agreement; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

any other amount that is expressly stated to be included in the Final Contract
Price of a Converted A318 Aircraft pursuant to any other

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provisions of this Agreement and/or any other written agreement between the
Buyer and the Seller relating to the Converted A318 Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNQUOTE

 

 

 

6.

A318 PRICE CONCESSIONS

 

 

 

 

6.1

The price concessions in Paragraph 6.2 herein are the only price concessions
applicable to the Converted A318 Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

6.2

In respect of each of the four (4) Converted A318 Aircraft, the Seller will
provide the Buyer with the following credits, collectively referred to below as
“Converted A318 Credits.”

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

An “A318 [***] Credit” of [***]).

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

An “A318 [***] Credit” of [***].

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

An “A318 [***] Credit” of [***].

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)

An “A318 [***] Credit” of [***].

 

 

 

 

 

The Converted A318 Credits are quoted at January 2003 delivery conditions and
are subject to escalation in accordance with the Seller Price Revision Formula
in Exhibit to Amendment No. 8 to the Agreement. At the Buyer’s option, each
Converted A318 Credit will be (i) applied by the Seller against the Final
Contract Price of the applicable Converted A318 Aircraft on Delivery of such
Converted A318 Aircraft or (ii) applied by the Buyer on or after such Delivery
against the purchase of product support related goods and services from the
Seller or its Affiliates.

 

 

 

 

7.

PREDELIVERY PAYMENTS

 

 

 

 

7.1

Predelivery Payments for the [***] Aircraft will be paid by the Buyer to the
Seller for each [***] Aircraft and will, in the aggregate, amount to [***] of
the Predelivery Payment Reference Price of the [***] Aircraft defined below in
Paragraph 7.2.

 

 

 

 

7.2

The Buyer will pay the Seller Predelivery Payments for the [***] Aircraft
calculated on the Predelivery Payment Reference Price of each [***] Aircraft.
The Predelivery Payment Reference Price is defined as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

A =

[***]

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where

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A =

the Predelivery Payment Reference Price for Converted A318 Aircraft to be
delivered in calendar year T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pb =

the Base Price of the Converted A318 Aircraft as defined in Paragraph 5.1 above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

N =

T - 2003).

 

 

 

 

 

 

T =

the year of delivery of the relevant Converted A318 Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

7.3

Predelivery Payments for the [***] Aircraft will be paid according to the
following schedules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payment Date

 

 

 

Percentage of [***]
Aircraft Predelivery
Payment Reference Price

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

1st Payment

 

On signature of this Amendment

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No later than the first Working Day of the following months:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2d Payment

 

The [***] before the Scheduled Delivery Month of each [***] Aircraft as set
forth in this Agreement

 

[***]
(less 1st Payment)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3d Payment

 

The [***] before the Scheduled Delivery Month of each [***] Aircraft as set
forth in this Agreement

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th Payment

 

The [***] before the Scheduled Delivery Month of each [***] Aircraft as set
forth in this Agreement

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th Payment

 

The [***] before the Scheduled Delivery Month of each [***] Aircraft as set
forth in this Agreement

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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   TOTAL PAYMENT PRIOR TO DELIVERY                         [***]

 

 

 

 

7.4

[***], the first Predelivery Payment for each of the six (6) Incremental A320
Aircraft, will be equal to [***].

 

 

 

 

8.

PURCHASE RIGHT AIRCRAFT

 

 

 

 

8.1

Pursuant to Paragraph 1.3 herein, wherein the Buyer agrees to purchases the six
(6) Purchase Right Aircraft as Incremental A320 Aircraft, and pursuant to Letter
Agreement No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 of the Agreement, the number of Purchase
Right Aircraft available to the Buyer is reduced from [***] to [***], and the
number of Additional Purchase Right Aircraft available to the Buyer is increased
from [***] to [***].

 

 

 

 

8.2

Notwithstanding Letter Agreement No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 of the Agreement, the
Seller grants the Buyer the right to order up to a maximum of [***] of the [***]
Purchase Right Aircraft remaining as of the date hereof as [***] model aircraft
with the same terms and conditions as those that apply to [***] Aircraft,
including those in Paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 herein, subject to the following:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

For the first such Purchase Right Aircraft firmly ordered as an [***] aircraft,
the Buyer will contemporaneously firmly order one (1) Purchase Right Aircraft as
an [***] model aircraft (the “[***] Aircraft”). The terms applicable to Purchase
Right Aircraft that are [***] Aircraft will be as set forth herein for
Additional [***] Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

For the second such Purchase Right Aircraft firmly ordered as an [***] aircraft,
the Buyer will contemporaneously firmly order one (1) Purchase Right Aircraft as
an [***] model aircraft (the “[***] Aircraft”). The terms applicable to Purchase
Right Aircraft that are [***] Aircraft will be as set forth herein for [***]
Aircraft.

 

 

 

 

(iii)

The [***] Aircraft and the [***] Aircraft will be scheduled for Delivery as
close as possible to the applicable [***] model under such paragraphs (i) and
(ii).

 

 

 

 

9.

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Seller grants the Buyer the right to [***] set forth in this Amendment (the
“[***]”), as set forth below:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

If the Buyer chooses to exercise its [***], it will do so by giving the Seller
written notice to this effect on [***] (the “[***]”). Failure to provide such
[***] on such date will constitute a waiver of the [***].

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(ii)

On and as of the Seller’s receipt of the [***],

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

The aircraft conversions and the order for incremental aircraft described in
Paragraph 1 of this Amendment will be [***], and, therefore, the [***] Aircraft
will be [***] under the Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

The delivery schedule for [***] Aircraft set forth in Paragraph 1.2 of this
Amendment will apply to the [***] Aircraft [***]. That is, the delivery schedule
for such [***] Aircraft will be one (1) in each of [***], [***],[***],[***], and
not, as was the case as of Amendment No. 8 of the Agreement, one (1) each in
[***],[***],[***] and [***].

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

The Buyer will be deemed to have ordered [***] Aircraft, and all of the terms of
[***] of the Agreement will be in effect [***].

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

The first Predelivery Payment, in the amount of [***], for each of the [***]
paid by the Buyer at time of signature of this Amendment, will be applied [***]
pursuant to the Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

Except as set forth above in Paragraph 10(ii)(b), all terms applicable to the
[***] Aircraft will remain unchanged[***].

 

 

 

 

10.

EFFECT OF THE AMENDMENT

 

 

 

The Agreement will be deemed amended to the extent herein provided, and, except
as specifically amended hereby, will continue in full force and effect in
accordance with its original terms. This Amendment supersedes any previous
understandings, commitments, or representations whatsoever, whether oral or
written, related to the subject matter of this Amendment.

 

 

 

Both parties agree that this Amendment will constitute an integral, nonseverable
part of the Agreement and be governed by its provisions, except that if the
Agreement and this Amendment have specific provisions that are inconsistent, the
specific provisions contained in this Amendment will govern.

 

 

11.

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

 

 

Without limiting the generality of Paragraph 10 with respect to the
applicability to this Amendment of all terms and conditions of the Agreement, to
the extent such terms and conditions are not inconsistent herewith, the parties
hereby acknowledge and agree that

FFT – A318/A319 – AVSA
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this Amendment is subject to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Clause
22.5 of the Agreement.

 

 

 

 

12.

COUNTERPARTS

 

 

 

This Amendment may be signed by the parties hereto in counterparts, which when
signed and delivered will each be an original and together constitute but one
and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed
by their respective officers or agents on the dates written below.

 

 

 

 

 

AVSA, S.A.R.L.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Its:

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Date:

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Frontier Airlines, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Its:

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Date:

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

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