A Spirit Airlines aircraft undergoes operations in preparation for departure on the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2024.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
Spirit Airlines told staff Friday that it’s suspending about 40 routes, finalizing a 25% cut to its November schedule because it scrambles to slash costs in bankruptcy and deal with profitable flights.
“While the news has been tough, we consider the clarity will help us move forward as a team,” Rana Ghosh, Spirit’s chief industrial officer, said in a note to employees, which was seen by CNBC.
Earlier this week Spirit said it plans to furlough about 1,800 flight attendants, around a 3rd of its cabin crew members.
Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month for the second time in lower than a 12 months because it struggled with higher-than-expected costs and weaker travel demand than it projected.
Spirit didn’t immediately comment on the routes it’s cutting, but Ghosh said in his note that Spirit might be halting service in Hartford, Connecticut, and Minneapolis.
He also said Spirit has hired Andrea Lusso, who previously was the principal for supply chain and network design at Amazon Air, the net retailer’s air shipment arm. Lusso will function vp of network planning. His predecessor, John Kirby, retired last month after greater than 40 years within the industry.
