1,800 Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants To Be Furloughed Amid Latest Bankruptcy Shake-Up

After announcing its second bankruptcy filing within a year and its decision to furlough hundreds of pilots, Spirit Airlines recently confirmed that it’s also furloughing 1,800 of its flight attendants.

The latest phase of the company’s wide-scale restructuring will take effect on December 1. According to CNBC, the number of flight attendants Spirit is furloughing is about a third of its cabin crew.

John Bendoraitis, the carrier’s chief operating officer, reportedly addressed the company’s worker reduction in a September 22 memo sent to its flight attendants.

“As we work to return Spirit to profitability, we face difficult decisions about our network, our fleet, and ultimately our workforce,” the memo noted.

“As part of our ongoing restructuring, we are taking steps to align staffing with our fleet size and expected flight volume. In line with this process, we have made the difficult decision to furlough approximately 1,800 flight attendants, effective December 1, 2025,” the carrier confirmed to CBS News.

What Else Is There To Know About The Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant Furloughs?

Spirit reportedly noted that it wants to provide “care and respect during this process.” 

Notably, the carrier announced earlier this month that its latest restructuring would include a 25% reduction in flight capacity. The company also announced its latest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the discontinuation of route service to 12 cities.

“These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline. Unfortunately, these are the tough calls we must make to emerge stronger. We know this adds uncertainty, and we are committed to keeping you informed as these decisions are made,” Spirit Airlines CEO Dave Davis reportedly said in a memo earlier this month.

In a September press release, Spirit claimed to have operated over 51,000 domestic flights during the three-month summer 2025 period.

“Spirit Airlines showcased its commitment to reliability and operational excellence by rising to the top of the ranks for on-time performance this summer, based on Department of Transportation (DOT) data for domestic flights in June, July, and August,” the carrier stated. “Spirit outperformed many of the high-cost airlines this summer, coming in third overall for on-time performance among all 10 largest U.S. carriers and outperforming the majority of U.S. legacy carriers.”

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