Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots and demote another 140
It's the latest major move from the cash-strapped budget carrier, as it looks to scale down its workforce, downsized schedule, and return to profitability.
The furloughs will go into effect on November 1, while designation downgrades for captains will take place on October 1, the company told Reuters in an emailed statement. 'We are taking necessary steps to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible as part of our efforts to return to profitability,' the airline said.
The announcement, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as Spirit tries to overhaul its business to move away from its no-frills image and rebrand as a premium airline.
The Florida-based carrier had filed for bankruptcy protection last November, following years of losses, heavy debt, and failed merger attempts. It emerged from bankruptcy in March.
The company needs fewer pilots to operate its flights, but that has sent off sparks inside the carrier. 'Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' Captain Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, said.
Captain Muller added that this marks the third round of pilot furloughs and downgrades since September 2024. Spirit is not alone.
Dozens of airlines have culled parts of their schedules, announced major layoffs, and cut back on financial expectations for 2025. The cuts have been particularly brutal for budget-friendly airlines.
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