UK Today News: Spirit Airlines Strike – Flights Cancelled As Pilots Go On Strike After Rejecting Spirit’s New Offer
Spirit Airlines Inc., has reportedly canceled it’s flights after the pilots’ strike came into affect today. The reported reason for the strike is over issues including pay, and the Spirit pilots say that their pay package is less than their competitors and they want a raise.
Spirit and the pilots union continued talking through Saturday night past their 12:01 a.m. strike deadline, with the pilots’ union asking to be paid as much as their counterparts – JetBlue and Airtran.
Spirit offered the pilots a 30 percent pay increase, but the pilots have rejected a 30 percent pay increase over five years as well as a $3,000 signing bonus per pilot (total cost of $70 million) to Spirit airlines. Besides this, the new package also allowed the Spirit pilots to retain a four-day off break between each trip.
Spirit was unhappy that their offer was rejected and the Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ben Baldanza said in a statement: “We are frustrated and disappointed that our pilots have turned down an over 30 percent increase at a cost of over $70 million over five years while disrupting thousands of our customers and jeopardizing the livelihoods of our over 2,000 employees.”
Customers with cancelled flights, will be issued a full refund of the flight ticket as well as a $100 future flight credit. For customers with cancelled flights who have booked prior to May 11 directly with Spirit and also have travel insurance can call Travel Guard at 866-877-3191.
