CNBC is reporting that Spirit Airlines will be furloughing 1,800 flight attendants in its latest attempt to cut costs. December 1, 2025, following a period of voluntary leaves, which will begin on November 1. The airline says the move is necessary to align staffing with its reduced flight schedule and shrinking aircraft operations.
The staffing cuts come alongside a planned reduction in flight capacity of around 25% year-over-year beginning in November. Spirit is aiming to “rightsize” its operations, focusing on its strongest routes and trimming labor costs. The company says these actions are essential for its survival, though the cuts are expected to ripple through operations during what is normally one of the busiest times of the year.
A Third Of Spirit’s Flight Attendants Are Out
Spirit is offering voluntary furloughs first, with employees able to opt for six or twelve-month unpaid leaves starting November 1, with healthcare benefits preserved during the period. Those options are being used in part to soften the blow before involuntary furloughs kick in December. These flight attendants will be the first to be recalled if or when Spirit stabilizes and begins to grow again.
Involuntary furloughs, when implemented, will be based on seniority, affecting about 1,800 of the airline’s 5,200 flight attendants. Spirit’s flight attendants are bracing for reductions in benefits or schedule disruptions, though the airline is working with unions to enable transfers or preferential hiring where possible.
Primarily, these cuts are coming with a significant reduction in Spirit’s holiday schedule, particularly in its least-profitable markets. The combination of staff cuts and reduced capacity may lead to delays, cancellations, or less flexibility when disruptions occur. However, the airline states that it remains committed to ensuring stability in its service. This also comes as the airline recently announced that it would furlough 270 pilots and downgrade over 140 captains in November.
What’s Happening At Spirit Airlines
Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2025, marking its second bankruptcy in under a year. The earlier restructuring that ended in March 2025 equitized about $795 million of funded debt, but losses have continued to mount despite those efforts. The August filing was driven by cash shortfalls, high operating costs, declining demand, and overcapacity in the US leisure market.
The company continues to lose hundreds of millions each quarter, and the losses are higher compared to the previous year. Rising costs in fuel, maintenance, labor, debt servicing, along with expensive aircraft leases, are eating away at Spirit’s margins. The airline is also facing a serious revenue problem as customers continue to flock to the legacy carriers.
Spirit is attempting to address its losses from all angles. While labor costs are some of an airline’s highest expenses, Spirit has also been cutting or reducing flying that is either marginal or unprofitable. However, there remains serious doubt about Spirit’s ability to survive long-term, as it continues on a downward spiral in which it struggles to make serious dents in its expenses while losing revenue.
The Challenges Of Running A ULCC In The US In 2025
Costs have risen across the industry, especially when you consider recent inflation. However, there remains another issue facing low-cost carriers which is that passengers are currently favoring legacy airlines. Premium is the name of the game today, and the result is that Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are the nation’s two most profitable airlines by far. Meanwhile, Spirit, JetBlue, and Southwest are struggling.
Frontier Airlines has managed to achieve profitability, and newcomer Breeze is also making money. Allegiant Air has also generally been reporting profits. However, Frontier has only seen its balance sheets move to the green after a significant change in its business model, while Breeze and Allegiant operate under fundamentally different business models than Spirit Airlines.
Another issue facing Spirit Airlines is brand image. The carrier is viewed by many as being America’s definitive “budget airline,” and this is essentially a negative in today’s market when customers want to visit pre-departure lounges and engage in loyalty programs to redeem miles for premium cabins. As such, Spirit faces an uphill battle in its fight to become profitable again, especially considering its revenue problem in today’s market.