Spirit to furlough about 1,800 flight attendants amid Chapter 11

Spirit Airlines said Monday it will furlough about one third of its flight attendants, roughly 1,800 of about 5,200, effective Dec. 1 as the ultralow‑cost carrier responds to sharply reduced flying and a second Chapter 11 filing this year. The company said the temporary layoffs are part of a broader effort to match staffing with expected flight demand and to shrink capacity as it reorganizes under bankruptcy protection.

In a statement, Spirit said the decision was difficult and that it intends to treat affected team members "with care and respect" during the process. Chief Operating Officer John Bendoraitis told flight attendants in a memo that the airline has so far relied largely on voluntary leaves, but that it must now pursue a "complete rightsizing of the airline, which means volume‑based adjustments to our flight attendant group." The airline has offered voluntary furloughs beginning Nov. 1 for six‑month or one‑year periods; involuntary furloughs based on seniority are slated to start Dec. 1 if further reductions are needed.

The Association of Flight Attendants said in a memo to members that the scale of cuts is driven by a significant reduction in aircraft and flight...