Spirit To Slash 25% of Flights, Signals Additional Layoffs
Spirit Airlines CEO Dave Davis has informed staff that the company plans to reduce its flight capacity by approximately 25 percent (compared to 2024), effective November 2025.
This follows Spirit’s second bankruptcy filing within a year, as the airline attempts to stabilize its financial position.
Spirit plans to focus operations on its strongest markets and discontinue service to less profitable cities. As part of this, Spirit will cease operations in 11 US cities, including Portland and Salt Lake City.
Spirit will also furlough 270 pilots starting November 1 and demote 140 captains as of October 1, with additional layoffs anticipated.
Capacity cuts and job reductions are key steps in Spirit’s ongoing financial restructuring to boost liquidity following a brief exit from its first bankruptcy in March 2025.
The second bankruptcy filing (submitted in August 2025) resulted from weak domestic leisure demand, tough competition, and debt burdens. Now, the company continues to operate while restructuring.
Meanwhile, the competitors are reacting aggressively, with JetBlue planning the expansion at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Spirit’s key market.
Photo by Ankush Kesri on Unsplash
