Low-cost U.S. carrier, Spirit Airlines, has announced it will recall almost 500 furloughed pilots. The airline, which furloughed the pilots as part of cost-cutting measures, has recently reached a restructuring deal with its creditors and is hoping to emerge from bankruptcy by summer of this year.
Operating as a Slimmer Airline
In a company memo reported by CNBC, the airline said:
‘Pilot attrition has been higher than forecast, making precise alignment between staffing and the reduced schedule more challenging. While these recalls won’t arrive in time to support the spring break—Easter period, they strengthen the foundation of our post-bankruptcy future’.
The airline’s parent company, Spirit Aviation Holdings, is preparing to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after agreeing to a restructuring deal which will see the carrier reduce its flights and focus on high-demand routes and peak travel periods.
The latest bankruptcy is the second time the airline has filed Chapter 11 proceedings in less than a year.
More About Spirit Airlines
Founded in 1983, the ultra-low-cost carrier started life as Charter One Airlines, before rebranding as Spirit Airlines in 1992. The airline, which has experienced significant financial difficulties in recent years, first filed for bankruptcy in November 2024. Primarily operating in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, its major bases include Las Vegas (LAS), Chicago (ORD), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Detroit (DTW), and Atlantic City (ACY.)
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