ORLANDO, Fla. – On September 23, Ultra-low-cost Career Spirit Airlines announced plans to scrap 1,800 employees nationwide as part of a bankruptcy restructuring, with Central Florida being heavily affected.
In a notice filed with the state, Spirit indicated that 350 flight attendants based at Orlando International Airport will be insulated from December 1st.
“The flow is expected to be temporary, but we are not sure about the duration,” Spirit notified the submission state authorities.
The Dania Beach-based airline filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on August 29, marking a second such filing less than a year later. Spirit reported a net loss of $245.8 million in the second quarter of 2025, and a 20% decline in revenue compared to the previous year. Over the past 52 weeks, its inventory has traded between 16 cents and 65 cents, opening on September 25th at 35 cents.
“As part of a continuous restructuring, we are taking steps to match our staff to the size of our fleet and expected flight volume,” a Spirit spokesman said. “We recognize the impact of this decision on the affected team members and are committed to treating them with care and respect.”
Despite staff cuts, Spirit is increasing the profits of its free Spirit Travel MoreMasterCard®, co-branded with Bank of America. Starting this week, the primary card holder can check up to two free bags on all Spirit flights booked via Spirit.com or the airline’s mobile app. This advantage applies to bags weighing up to 50 pounds and includes sports equipment such as golf clubs and skis.
“Our most loyal guests know that when they choose their spirits they get the greatest value, and now the free spirit trip where more Mastercards fly with us will be even more rewarding,” said Spirit Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
This new PERK adds to existing cardholder benefits such as priority check-in and boarding, free space-available upgrades, and a 25% rebate on in-flight food and beverage purchases. New cardholders can also earn 50,000 bonus points and a $100 companion flight voucher after meeting certain spending requirements.
Orlando remains a key market
Despite Farrow, Spirit continues to be the second busiest airline at Orlando International Airport, serving more than 7.83 million passengers in 2024, earning almost 14% of the market share. Last year, only Southwest Airlines carried more passengers through Orlando.
Industry analysts note that these layoffs reflect broader national trends. US employers announced nearly 86,000 job cuts in August, marking the highest level of the month since 2020.
