Overview

• CEO Dave Davis told employees the November schedule will be trimmed about 25% year over year to concentrate on stronger markets, with workforce reductions expected as part of the restructuring.
• Spirit is negotiating with vendors and aircraft lessors, evaluating fleet size, and planning meetings with union leaders after earlier pilot furloughs and route exits.
• The carrier entered Chapter 11 for the second time in a year last month after its prior reorganization failed to stabilize finances and it continued to post heavy losses.
• United ruled out pursuing Spirit assets, citing about $15 million per plane to reconfigure Spirit’s Airbus jets and limited gate access in key markets like Fort Lauderdale, while adding flights in 15 Spirit cities to offer alternatives.
• United’s Scott Kirby has predicted Spirit will fail, a view challenged by Frontier CEO Barry Biffle as Frontier, United and JetBlue announce service expansions in Spirit markets, raising questions about future access to ultra-low fares.