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Spirit Airlines Strike Continues, Stranding Passengers

Locations in this article:  Detroit, MI

Spirit Airlines Strike Drags OnSpirit Airlines has canceled all of its flights through Wednesday, June 16, due to a pilot strike that is now entering its third day.

With thousands of travelers stranded, the Miramar, Florida-based air carrier is offering future flight credits for customers in the full amount of their unflown ticket, along with a $100 future flight credit.

The budget airline, which advertises base fares starting from $9, services mostly leisure markets in the U.S., Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Although the airline is working to rebook passengers on alternate flights, Spirit does not have the same interline agreements as legacy carriers that would facilitate the rebooking process. Many stranded passengers have had to scramble to purchase tickets on alternate airlines, paying out of pocket and often at sky-high, last-minute prices.

Previously: Spirit Airlines Strike? Pilots Reject Deal, Set Stage for Walkout.

Spirit Airlines StrikeThe pilots’ union Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), have been negotiating a contract with Spirit for nearly four years. ALPA argues that despite being profitable for the last six reported quarters and expanding the company’s routes, Spirit management continues pay its pilots below-market rates compared to its competitors, JetBlue, Frontier, AirTran and Southwest.

According to Spirit, ALPA recently turned down a compounded average 29 percent pay increase, which would total a 47 percent increase in annual compensation over five years, when combined with annual step increases. That increase does not include a $3,000 signing bonus and 401(k) matching plans.

Captain Sean Creed, chairman of the ALPA group at Spirit, said Sunday that the company’s offer only matches inflation.

Spirit pilots, nearly 450 in total, say they will not return to the cockpit until they can negotiate a “fair and equitable contract.”

By Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related links: MarketWatch, BusinessWeek, Detroit News, Air Line Pilots Association, Spirit Airlines

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