Spirit Airlines, a major budget airline, has recently canceled dozens of flights to perform a 'necessary' inspection of a small section of 25 of their aircraft. The airline has taken this step out of an abundance of caution.
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Impact on Flight Schedule
The cancellation of approximately 100 flights is expected to impact the airline's network for several days. As of 2:45 p.m. EDT, the ultra-low-cost carrier had canceled 98 flights or 11% of its schedule for Friday. The site also showed that Spirit had canceled another 81 flights, or 9% of its schedule, on Saturday.
Affected Airports
Flights departing from airports such as Atlantic City, Hartsfield-Jackson, Nashville, Boston Logan, Baltimore/Washington, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston Bush, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Orlando, Chicago O’Hare, Southwest Florida, and Tampa have been impacted.
FAA Involvement
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has classified the checks as a "mandatory maintenance inspection" and stated that it will ensure that the matter is addressed before the airplanes are returned to service.
Apology from Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines has apologized for the inconvenience and is working to take care of affected guests. The airline has not specified the type of inspections that need to take place, but FlightAware data shows almost all the cancellations involve Spirit’s Airbus A319 aircraft. The airline has advised customers to check the status of their flight before going to the airport. This incident serves as a reminder that safety is paramount in the aviation industry and airlines must take necessary precautions to ensure the well-being of their passengers.
