Spirit Airlines May Shut Down Within A Year, Plans To Cut Over 200 Pilot Jobs Amid Financial Crisis

Spirit Airlines May Shut Down Within A Year, Plans To Cut Over 200 Pilot Jobs Amid Financial Crisis

 

Spirit Airlines just raised major red flags about its future, warning it may not survive the next 12 months.

Despite restructuring its debt and emerging from bankruptcy earlier this year, the budget carrier revealed in a new SEC filing that “there is substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within 12 months.”

Spirit says it’s still struggling with “adverse market conditions,” including weak demand for domestic leisure travel and a tough pricing environment in Q2.

To stay afloat, the airline says it has furloughed over 200 pilots, launched a Premium Economy option, and is selling spare engines for quick cash, among other things. Spirit is also trying to renegotiate terms with its credit card processor, whose deal expires December 31.

The warning comes after Spirit’s failed $3.8B merger with JetBlue was blocked by a federal judge in early 2024 over antitrust concerns. Talks with Frontier reportedly resumed later that year, but nothing’s been confirmed.

Do you think Spirit will bounce back, or does this seem like the end?

[VIA]

Authored by: Kay Johnson