Spirit (SPA) > Shutdown Info

 

SPIRIT AIRLINES SHUTDOWN 

INFORMATION FOR PILOTS

Effective May 2, at 3 a.m. ET, Spirit Airlines has ceased all operations. This page is your primary source of information regarding the shutdown, including getting home, accessing career resources, and the support programs that are available to you right now. The site will be continuously updated.  

CUSTODIAN UPDATES

PAY UPDATE

The Custodian team met with the Company this week to continue discussions surrounding pilot pay. We have been told by Spirit management that there will be no checks issued May 15, 2026. This is due to the Crew Pay team having to perform manual audits for both the April 2026 reconciliation and work performed May 1 and 2, 2026. The Company informed us they expect the auditing process to conclude this week and anticipate issuing checks for the monies owed for April 2026 and May 1 and 2, next week.

There are still several outstanding issues in terms of pay, for instance, the status of payment of our sick and vacation banks. These discussions remain ongoing and your custodian team is pressing management for timely and accurate pay processing.

SOFT-LANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRIT PILOTS

Preferential Hiring Agreements, Job Fairs, and Carrier Support

The following carriers have offered preferential hiring agreements, hiring opportunities, job fairs, or other forms of support to Spirit Airlines pilots affected by the shutdown. Carriers are listed in alphabetical order. This document will be updated as additional agreements/opportunities are received.

AEROMEDICAL SUPPORT

The Aviation Medicine Advisory Service (AMAS) is ALPA's consulting service for U.S. pilots, available at no cost to you. All AMAS physicians are residency-trained and board-certified in aerospace medicine, with most holding additional medical specialty certifications.

If you encounter medical certificate issues, or have any questions, visit  alpa.org/aeromedical, or call 303-341-4435.

FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

You should file for unemployment benefits promptly. A waiting period typically applies, so do not delay. File in the state where you were based. The DOL has set up a Rapid Response Service website for Spirit Pilots here. For general guidance, visit the Department of Labor site at dol.gov.

Spirit Pilot Domiciles by State

Florida

Texas

Georgia

Illinois

Michigan

New York

Nevada

JUMPSEAT INFO

CASS became INACTIVE as of 11 p.m. ET on May 2nd, ending cockpit jumpseat access.

This following list will be updated as additional confirmations come in. Download the ALPA mobile app for real-time jumpseat and travel updates. 


CUSTODIAN UPDATES

SPA Custodian Update — Charles Schwab 401(k) Webinar

June 2, 2026
Register for the Spirit Employee 401(k) webinar on June 18, 2026

SPA Custodian Update — Final Payroll Distribution

May 29, 2026
Read for an important update from the SPA Custodian Team…

SPA Custodian Update — May 22

May 22, 2026
Pay Update, 401(k), Vacation and Sick Payouts, WARN Notice, NCCs, Grievances….

SPA Custodian Update — April & May Compensation

May 21, 2026
Read for an important pay update regarding April and May Compensation…

SPA Custodian Update — May 15 Update

May 15, 2026
Pay Update, Drug & Alcohol, 401(k), COBRA/Healthcare, All Resources on spa.alpa.org/shutdown…

SPA Custodian Update — General Shutdown Update

May 8, 2026
Read for more info on MEC Custodians, DART, Pay Status, UKG Access, Soft-Landing Opportunities...

SPA Custodian Update - 401(k) Information

May 7, 2026
An important update regarding 401(k) information…

SPA Custodian Update - Healthcare Information

May 5, 2026
An important update regarding healthcare information…

SPA Chairman's Message - Shutdown Update #3

May 3, 2026
401(k) + COBRA FAQ Coming Soon, Jumpseat Agreements, WARN Act Notices, Filing for Unemployment, PPS

SPA Chairman's Message - Shutdown Update #2

May 2, 2026
Shutdown Resources Website is Live, CASS active until 11 p.m. ET, Jumpseat Update, Membership, PPS…

SPA Chairman's Message - Airline Shutdown

May 2, 2026
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you under these devastating circumstances. We were informed very early this morning that the Company has ceased operations effective at 3 a.m. ET. This is not the outcome any of us wanted, invested in, or worked toward.

WARN ACT

On May 2, ALPA received WARN Act notices from Spirit Airlines stating that it “will be” conducting a reduction in force affecting employees ALPA represents at the following locations:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

6000 North Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30320

Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

7050 Friendship Rd, Baltimore, MD 21240

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

 3200 E Airfield Dr, Dallas, TX 75261

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

2500 World Gateway Place, Detroit, MI 48242

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

10 Toler Pl, Newark, NJ 07114

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

100 Terminal Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

2800 N Terminal Rd, Houston, TX 77032

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

9400 Ditmars Blvd · East Elmhurst, NY 11369

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

5757 Wayne Newton Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827

Miami International Airport (MIA)

42nd Ave, Miami, FL 33142

Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)

10000 W O'Hare Ave, Chicago, IL 60666

MCO Infight & Operations Center (OOC)

10084 AirTran Blvd Orlando, FL 32827

Spirit Support Center

1731 Radiant Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004

The WARN notice contained a list of pilots currently employed by Spirit and also stated:

This layoff will begin on May 2, 2026, or the 14-day period commencing on that date. The layoff will be permanent, and the Company’s operations at the locations will permanently cease. We regret that we are not able to give you more notice of your layoff. We were not able to do so because the Company was actively seeking capital to avoid these layoffs and closures and notice would have precluded the Company from obtaining the capital needed. 

Pilots have raised issues of severance pay that may be available under the federal WARN Act and various state laws. We have referred those issues to our bankruptcy counsel for review and will advise when we have more information.

ALPA MEMBERSHIP

Verify that your ALPA membership is in good standing now. Visit alpa.org/members, email Membership@alpa.org, or contact Membership Administration Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, at 888-FLY-ALPA (888-359-2572) and press 3.

If you or a fellow pilot can't access your ALPA account, use these direct links:

Forgot your ALPA Member Number?

Need to reset your ALPA Password or fix other login issues?

For ALPA membership purposes, SPA ALPA members who have not secured jobs at another ALPA carrier have been granted Inactive Participant (IP) status. 

Since the airline has stated that it has ceased operations, ALPA has concluded that there is no pilot seniority list to maintain for recalls (as would be seen at airlines which intend to reorganize) and therefore our pilots cannot be considered to be furloughed.

The “IP” Membership classification usually has a $75 annual membership fee for one year following the shutdown, but ALPA is waiving that for our pilot group. After the year, you may keep your IP status by paying $75 annually. The big benefit of retaining IP status is that it allows inactive members to continue to buy ALPA insurance if they need it.

Even though you are officially considered IPs for membership purposes and not furloughed members, you can also still access ALPA programs administered by the Furloughed Pilots Support Program . This includes preparing your personal finances, how to continue healthcare coverage after a shutdown, Pilot Peer Support, and furlough mentors.