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June 3, 2008
Increasing jet fuel prices may cause Spirit Airlines to lay off or displace hundreds of pilots and flight attendants in two months.
The Miramar-based low-cost carrier sent letters to union leaders late Friday, notifying them that it could furlough or displace up to 452 flight attendants and up to 242 pilots on Aug. 1.
The airline also filed a Workers Adjustment and Restraining Notice with the state on Tuesday, indicating up to 416 of those positions are at its Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport base.
Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson said the notices were a precaution that allows the company to remain flexible as fuel prices rise, and that it has no specific layoff plans.
Corie Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants, said the organization has been working with Spirit on solutions to affect the least amount of people. AFA said the 452 figure is a worst-case scenario, and it does not anticipate that many jobs will be affected.
Sean Creed, chairman of Spirit's pilot union, which is part of the Airline Pilots Association, said he was shocked when he saw the notice, saying that the union had met with Spirit management nine days before and were given no indication of possible layoffs. He estimated that about 70 percent of the potential pilot layoffs and displacements would be at FLL.
According to the letters, written by Jeff Carlson, Spirit's vice president of flight operations, the airline is closing its bases at New York's LaGuardia Airport and San Juan, reducing its Fort Lauderdale base and closing its Detroit base for flight attendants.
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