By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.Com
June 17, 2010
Spirit Airlines and its pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA) have announced a tentative agreement on a new contract, ending a strike. The contract, which was unanimously recommended by the union's leadership, is subject to ratification by the pilot membership, which is planned for July.
Pending ratification, Spirit's pilots are returning to work, and the airline will resume operations on Friday, June 18, the company said. Spirit recommended customers reconfirm their flights at the company's website.
"I am pleased that we were able to fashion a constructive solution to our differences that will allow us to resume serving our customers," said Captain Sean Creed, head of the Spirit unit of ALPA.
"We are excited to be back flying with low fares for our customers," said Ben Baldanza, President and CEO of Spirit. "Our pilots worked hard to get a mutually favorable deal that allows the Company to grow while improving their wages and benefits. We apologize to those of our customers whose travel was disrupted as a result of the strike and look forward to earning back their trust with ultra-low fares, great service, and the best pilots in the sky."
The airline expressed gratitude to the National Mediation Board, its pilots, employees and ALPA for their "dedication throughout this process," which led to a new agreement that ended the crippling strike. Faced with a walkout by its pilots, the airline found it was unable to operate any of its flights.
As the strike began last week, some customers said they felt they were kept in the dark.
"We went to the airport at 4:30 am last Friday, June 11 and were told that the flights had been cancelled to a strike," Siobhan, of Newburyport, Mass., told ConsumerAffairs.com. "Spirit Airlines had our phone numbers to contact us but never bothered to call and inform us of the strike. I spoke with another customer of Spirit and she said they told her it was due to mechanical problems as to why the flight was cancelled. I am not sure why their website was still advertising flights and accepting money on line for them."
To thank its customers for their support and loyalty, Spirit said it is offering customers a coupon for $50 off their next flight and 5,000 FREE SPIRIT bonus miles. Spirit is offering customers a coupon to save $50 off their next round-trip purchase for travel from June 18, 2010 through November 17, 2010.
