Spirit Airlines furloughs 260 pilots to save money

Spirit Airlines has announced a deal with Airbus to delay aircraft deliveries from the second quarter of 2025 through 2026. The low-cost carrier plans to furlough about 260 pilots as a cost-saving measure, effective September 1. The deferred deliveries will now take place in 2030-2031 due to engine quality issues with supplier Pratt & Whitney. The agreement with Airbus is expected to improve Spirit’s liquidity by approximately $340 million over the next two years. Despite the positive impact on costs, the furloughs may limit revenue-generating opportunities for the airline.