Spirit Airlines announces furloughs for 1,800 flight attendants amid financial struggles

The reductions coincide with significant cuts to Spirit's holiday schedule, especially in less profitable markets. This could lead to delays, cancellations, or less flexibility when disruptions occur. The airline says it is working with unions to enable transfers or preferential hiring where possible and remains committed to maintaining stability in service.

Earlier this year, Spirit announced it would furlough 270 pilots and downgrade over 140 captains in November as part of broader efforts to address financial challenges.

In August 2025, Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than a year after ongoing losses and cash shortfalls. Despite an earlier restructuring that equitized $795 million of funded debt by March 2025, losses have continued due to high operating costs—including fuel, maintenance, labor, debt servicing—and expensive aircraft leases.

The company continues to report quarterly losses higher than those from the previous year and faces declining demand as more passengers choose legacy carriers over low-cost options like Spirit. While labor is one of the largest expenses for airlines, Spirit has also been cutting unprofitable flights but still struggles with both rising costs and falling revenue.

Industry-wide inflation has increased costs across all airlines in the United States in 2025. However, many passengers now prefer premium services offered by legacy carriers such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—currently the most profitable airlines in the country—while other low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Southwest also face challenges. Frontier Airlines has achieved profitability after changing its business model; Allegiant Air and newcomer Breeze Airways have also reported profits using different operational approaches compared to Spirit.

Spirit’s brand image as America’s definitive budget airline may be contributing negatively at a time when customers value premium amenities such as pre-departure lounges and loyalty programs offering rewards for premium cabins. As a result, Spirit faces ongoing difficulties returning to profitability amid stiff competition and changing passenger preferences.