Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots, demote 140 while preparing to cut flights

"We are taking necessary steps to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible as part of our efforts to return to profitability," Spirit Airlines said

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: July 29, 2025 2:02pm

Spirit Airlines will furlough 270 pilots and demote another 140 while preparing to cut flights this fall.

The airline made the announcement on Monday, CNBC reported. Spirit emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, after filing in November. The company is attempting to gain customers with more upscale travel options, which have been more successful than the basic coach tickets that the airline has been known for.

“We are taking necessary steps to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible as part of our efforts to return to profitability. Among these steps, we have made the difficult decision to furlough approximately 270 Pilots, effective Nov. 1, 2025, to better align staffing with our flight schedule,” the airline told The Hill news outlet on Tuesday.

“We recognize the weight of this decision and are committed to treating all affected Team Members with compassion and respect during this process,” the airline added.

The 140 pilots will be demoted from captain to first officer on Oct. 1, said a note to aviators from their union, the Air Line Pilots Association.

“We know how hard this news hits, and there’s no dressing that up. Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,” said Ryan Muller, a captain and the chairman of Spirit's ALPA chapter.

Last September, Spirit furloughed about 200 pilots, before filing for bankruptcy.