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The Hill
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Spirit Airlines furloughing 270 pilots, demoting another 140 amid slower schedule
Spirit Airlines is furloughing around 270 pilots and demoting another 140 later this year as the budget carrier looks to slim down the workforce and adjust to a slower schedule. 'We are taking necessary steps to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible as part of our efforts to return to profitability. Among these steps, we have made the difficult decision to furlough approximately 270 Pilots, effective Nov. 1, 2025, to better align staffing with our flight schedule,' the airline said in an emailed statement to The Hill on Tuesday. The demotion of approximately 140 captains will take place on Oct. 1. They will downgraded to first officer, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest pilot union in the world, CNBC reported. 'We recognize the weight of this decision and are committed to treating all affected Team Members with compassion and respect during this process,' the airline added. The Florida-based carrier had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, after failed attempts at merging with other airlines and financial losses. Spirit emerged from bankruptcy in March. Ahead of filing for bankruptcy, Spirit furloughed around 200 pilots in September. 'We know how hard this news hits, and there's no dressing that up. Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' Ryan Muller, a captain and the chairman of Spirit's Air Line Pilots Association, said, according to CNBC.
Daily Mail
29-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots and demote another 140
Airlines were supposed to rake in record profits in 2025. Instead, another company is cutting hundreds of staffers. Spirit Airlines said on Monday it will furlough about 270 pilots while demoting 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.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots and demote 140 more on downsized schedule
Spirit Airlines said on Monday that it will furlough about 270 pilots while demoting another 140, as the cash-strapped budget carrier looks to scale down its workforce to match a downsized schedule. 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. 'Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' said Captain Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, adding that this marks the third round of pilot furloughs and downgrades since September 2024. The union said it is working on a third Furlough Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding to pursue voluntary options to reduce the scope of the furloughs and preserve pilot careers. Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Chaos at major airline as 270 pilots grounded and 140 demoted... sparking fears for holiday travel
Airlines were supposed to rake in record profits in 2025. Instead, another company is cutting hundreds of staffers. Spirit Airlines said on Monday it will furlough about 270 pilots while demoting 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 Nov. 1, while designation downgrades for captains will take place on Oct. 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. 'Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' said Captain Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, adding that this marks the third round of pilot furloughs and downgrades since September 2024. The union said it is working on a third Furlough Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding to pursue voluntary options to reduce the scope of the furloughs and preserve pilot careers.
CNN
28-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots, demote 140 more on downsized schedule
FacebookTweetLink Spirit Airlines said on Monday that it will furlough about 270 pilots while demoting another 140, as the cash-strapped budget carrier looks to scale down its workforce to match a downsized schedule. 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. 'Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' said Captain Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, adding that this marks the third round of pilot furloughs and downgrades since September 2024. The union said it is working on a third Furlough Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding to pursue voluntary options to reduce the scope of the furloughs and preserve pilot careers.
