Spirit Airlines, recognized for its budget-friendly travel options and iconic yellow aircraft, is set to furlough approximately 1,800 flight attendants, constituting about one-third of its workforce in that role. This plan will take effect on December 1, as the airline aims to implement significant cost-cutting measures amid ongoing financial struggles.
The announcement follows the airline’s recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, marking its second such event within a year. This move has raised alarms about the airline’s sustainability and its ability to navigate the current market challenges. In a memo addressed to the flight attendants, Spirit’s Chief Operating Officer John Bendoraitis acknowledged the tough decisions the airline must confront as it seeks to regain profitability. He emphasized that adjustments to the airline’s network, fleet, and ultimately its workforce are necessary.
Prior to this announcement, Spirit managed to sidestep involuntary furloughs by placing over 800 employees on extended voluntary leave, but Bendoraitis pointed out that the participation in these programs has reached its limit. “We need to shift our focus to a complete rightsizing of the airline, which means volume-based adjustments to our Flight Attendant group,” he stated.
The airline plans to first offer voluntary furloughs for periods ranging from six months to a year, according to information from the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA. However, if voluntary leaves are insufficient to achieve the necessary reductions, involuntary furloughs will begin in December.
In conjunction with these furlough plans, Spirit has made significant operational adjustments. Earlier this month, the airline cut its flight schedule down to 12 cities and suspended service to four California airports: Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, and San Diego.
This latest bankruptcy filing follows a challenging period for the airline, which initially filed for bankruptcy in November 2024 and emerged from it in March. However, the financial landscape worsened, with the airline reporting losses of nearly $257 million between March and June.
In a message to its members, the Assn. of Flight Attendants reaffirmed that the furloughs are inevitable at this point in the bankruptcy process, citing a drastic reduction in aircraft and flight hours. The union has acknowledged the necessity of a furlough given Spirit’s current circumstances, reflecting the overall turbulence the airline is facing as it seeks to stabilize its operations in a competitive industry.
