Following Spirit Airlines’ shutdown over the weekend, more than 2,000 pilots and thousands of other former personnel are left with “more questions than answers,” according to Ryan Muller, chairman of the Air Line Pilot Association’s (ALPA) Spirit Airlines Pilots Master Executive Council (SPA MEC)—including when they will be paid.
In a statement Saturday, Muller said the SPA MEC has received no word on the status of former employees’ final paychecks, which cover hours worked through their final day. Spirit has informed personnel it will not offer severance pay, but ALPA’s bankruptcy counsel is reviewing cases and plans to be present for bankruptcy proceedings.
A Spirit Airlines spokesperson told FLYING that the company is coordinating closely with ALPA to determine when final paychecks will be issued.
“We are pressing for answers and will communicate the moment we have them,” Muller said.
Reports of Spirit’s looming shutdown emerged Friday. ALPA said it received WARN Act notices on Saturday, informing it that the airline “will be” undertaking force reductions at its support center, in-flight and operations center in Orlando, and the following airports:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (KATL)
- Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall (KBWI)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (KDFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (KDTW)
- Newark Liberty International (KEWR)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (KFLL)
- George Bush Intercontinental (KIAH)
- Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS)
- LaGuardia (KLGA)
- Orlando International (KMCO)
- Miami International (KMIA)
- Chicago O’Hare (KORD)
“We regret that we are not able to give you more notice of your layoff,” Spirit wrote in the notices, explaining that publicizing the layoffs would have hindered its efforts to secure additional funding.
The airline in recent years has contended with two bankruptcies, multiple furloughs, and a blocked merger with JetBlue Airways. Volatile jet fuel prices due to war in the Middle East were the final blow for its ultra-low-cost model.
“This is devastating news for Spirit pilots and all Spirit employees,” Muller wrote Saturday. “We held up our end and did everything we possibly could. This is not a reflection of our pilot group’s effort, professionalism, or commitment…Right now, our focus is on getting everyone home.”
Getting Home
Spirit abruptly informed customers on Saturday morning that their flights would be canceled, leaving thousands of travelers and crewmembers stranded.
Spirit’s internal travel portals, including its Cockpit Access Security System (CASS) for jumpseating, shut down Saturday. Cockpit jumpseat access also expired Saturday, but Spirit is arranging cabin jumpseat trips on:
- JetBlue, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines through May 16
- Delta Air Lines through May 12
- Sun Country through May 9
- Breeze Airways through June 2
- American, United, Delta, and Alaska regional carriers, in accordance with their parent companies’ policies
Southwest Airlines has extended its Nonrevenue Space Available (NRSA) privileges through May 16, so long as pilots have a valid Spirit employee badge and identification. Employees can call 877-528-6535 to make an NRSA listing if their myIDtravel is terminated.
A list of carriers with cabin jumpseat availability is being continually updated.
ALPA advised Spirit personnel who used nonrevenue travel to “stand by” for further guidance.
“We are working to confirm what accommodations are available to you,” Muller wrote.
Getting Paid
As of Sunday, ALPA’s SPA MEC had not been told when former Spirit pilots could expect a final paycheck.
“We are working directly with the company on pilot-specific termination questions, and full guidance on benefits will follow in a future update,” Muller wrote.
ALPA advised former employees to immediately download recent pay stubs, W-2s, and other employment records—as well as logbooks, proficiency checks, and training records—and save them to a personal device or email account. Spirit email addresses were deactivated Saturday, but per the airline personnel still have access to a workforce management portal.
The group advised personnel who are owed overrides, per diem, or other outstanding amounts not to file individual claims “until you hear from us.”
“Do not assume amounts are finalized,” Muller said. “Hold on to any records of hours worked, overrides owed, and per diem.”
Former employees do not need to return company iPads or other devices. But the airline has told them not to collect personal items from their work locations until it advises to do so in the “coming weeks.”
Benefits, including medical, dental, and visual, ended Saturday. Some can be converted to individual policies or obtained via COBRA through the end of May. Personnel can begin filing for unemployment benefits right away in the state they were based.
Next Steps
Per ALPA, conditional job offers for former Spirit personnel at other carriers are “being confirmed and will be communicated as they are received.” President Jason Ambrosi has contacted all MEC chairs at other airlines to request preferential interviews.
SPA members who have not yet landed with another ALPA carrier are considered “inactive participants.” The union will waive the first year’s membership fee, which allows them to purchase ALPA insurance, and pilots can pay $75 annually to maintain IP status.
Members should also verify their Pilot Records Database (PRD), which Muller said will be “used in every hiring decision going forward.” Per ALPA, a “known error” in Spirit’s PRD system erroneously identified some captains as having recently completed training as first officers, so pilots should check for that error and any others before heading to an interview.
The SPA MEC has negotiated “soft landings and additional benefits” for its members with United Airlines, Endeavor Air, Wizz Air, and other airlines, including bonuses and preferential hiring agreements. Future and Active Pilots Alliance (FAPA) career fairs on Friday in Chicago and June 12 in Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as EAA AirVenture’s Aviation Job Fair in June, are opportunities to find new career paths.
ALPA’s Spirit shutdown page contains additional information on how to get home and access career resources and support. That includes the union’s Furloughed Pilots Support Program and “Dealing With a Furlough” checklist, Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, and Pilot Peer Support network that provides mental health support from other aviators.
In addition, the group is offering exclusive career counseling, logbook subscriptions, and other support.
