MIRAMAR, Fla., Sept. 4 FL-SpiritAirlinesSuit
MIRAMAR, Fla., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines today acknowledged
that the Air Line Pilots Association, the labor union that represents the
Airline's pilots, had filed a lawsuit against the airline seeking to require
the Airline to reverse certain work rule and other changes implemented by the
company over the past two months. Those initiatives were developed in
response to unprecedented economic and airline industry conditions and
undertaken to allow Spirit to remain competitive, continue to offer low
airfares to its customers and continue to provide well paid, secure airline
jobs to its outstanding employees.
"The work rule adjustments were among dozens of cost savings initiatives
implemented at Spirit in response to unprecedented oil prices and a slowing US
economy," said Ben Baldanza, the company's president and CEO. "Each of the
changes is permitted under the existing collective bargaining agreement. We
understand that some of our pilots are unhappy about the changes but, in our
view, the work rule adjustments are critically necessary in these challenging
times for the well being of the company and our employees. Each issue is
being negotiated in already scheduled arbitrations or in our ongoing
collective bargaining under supervision of a Federal mediator.
"As everyone knows, the economics of our industry have changed
dramatically, as the result of a doubling in fuel prices over the past year
and the recession in the United States," added Baldanza. "Our decision to
discontinue certain less efficient practices within the bounds of our existing
agreement is just one part of a company-wide range of initiatives aimed at
improving revenues and reducing costs. These changes help to ensure the
company's continued ability to compete, grow, and protect our employees'
jobs."
The ALPA lawsuit was initiated at a time when airline fuel prices are up
93 percent in the past year and have tripled in the last 24 months.
Meanwhile, six U.S. airlines have gone out of business, another is operating
in bankruptcy, and all remaining U.S. carriers have announced dramatic
reductions in flying schedules and layoffs totaling more than 30,000
employees. Spirit itself has announced that it would reduce its schedule in
the second half of 2008 by prematurely returning aircraft in its fleet and
terminating or furloughing more than 250 employees, including 115 of the
Company's pilots.
Baldanza stated, "The negative effect of current market conditions on the
airline industry is unprecedented. Spirit certainly is not singling out its
pilots, who do an outstanding job every day and have helped the company reduce
fuel consumption and other costs. We believe that the airlines that step up
to these tough choices will protect the most jobs and have the best chance at
securing a stable future for their employees."
About Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (www.spiritair.com) is the largest Ultra Low Cost
Carrier (ULCC) in the United States, Latin America and Caribbean. Its all-
Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas, flies more than 200 daily flights
to 43 destinations. The company is based in Miramar, Florida, and employs
2,300 professionals.
SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc.
