Spirit Union Stands Strong After Almost 200 Pilot Furloughs

Spirit Airlines furloughed 186 more of their pilots on September 1. Their union, backed by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), is showing their commitment to getting these pilots back in the air.

In an industry dominated by four all-star players, Spirit has been struggling to stay above the line. The airline posted in early August that they had lost $192.9 million in the second quarter, vastly greater than the $2.3 million loss in the prior year’s period. The original furlough projection, containing 240 pilots, was released at this same time.

As icing on the cake, Spirit announced pay raises for several executives and its CEO right after sending out their initial furlough notices.

Spirit attempted a merger with JetBlue early this year to lighten their financial troubles. However, a U.S. judge blocked it in January due to antitrust concerns. On March 4, the duo published a mutual agreement to drop the merger plan and go their separate ways.

“No doubt the last couple of years have been challenging for Spirit pilots, but through it all we’ve been buoyed by our pilot group’s solidarity, unity, and commitment to supporting one another,” explained Ryan Mueller, Spirit Master Executive Council Chairman. “Pilots accepting voluntary leaves, in addition to attrition, have greatly reduced the initial furlough and involuntary downgrade projections. In addition, a significant number of those being furloughed chose voluntary furlough, protecting a more junior pilot’s career.”

The selflessness displayed by these pilots hasn’t gone unnoticed. Several airlines under ALPA representation have offered interviews, benefits, and other resources.

“Although the furloughed pilots are not currently flying the line at Spirit, they remain part of our union. We look forward to their return to the flight deck, whether at Spirit or another carrier, and are committed to continuing to support all our pilots,” continued Mueller.