Spirit Airlines will cut around 150 salaried roles and end operations at five U.S. airports, including Milwaukee and Phoenix, by January as part of a deeper restructuring plan aimed at stabilising the low-cost carrier. This follows an earlier announcement to furlough 365 pilots and downgrade up to 170 pilot roles in Q1 2026. The airline expects to post losses of about US$804 million next year, and plans to shrink its network further in 2026 to support a return to profitability by 2027.
The actions signal growing labour disruption within US aviation as financially pressured carriers tighten headcount and reduce route capacity. Workforce impact is likely to intensify as job exposure extends beyond pilots to non-flight functions, tied to network contraction.
Industry analysts note that rival airlines are already moving quickly to absorb Spirit’s routes in their core markets, which could shift talent mobility and hiring competition in regions where Spirit reduces presence. Workers across the aviation ecosystem may face more volatile employment conditions as restructuring cycles accelerate across low-cost carriers responding to weaker margins and rising operational costs.