Spirit Airlines has made headlines in recent weeks by announcing that it will be canceling a string of flights so the airline can inspect its planes. The initiative was announced by the budget carrier on October 22, 2020, stating that the move was in response to “unexpected maintenance needs.”
At first, the airline only planned to cancel a few hundred of flights, though it has since become clear that the number could be much higher. Spirit Airlines will likely end up canceling multiple flights each day through at least November 8, 2020, which comes out to a total of 133 flights at the time of this writing.
The airline has refused to specify why it needs to inspect its planes, but said in a statement that the move is necessary to ensure the “safety and comfort” of its passengers. Spirit Airlines insists that “there is no indication of any higher-than-normal risk related to this initiative,” though that may not be enough to put anxious fliers at ease.
The announcement has resulted in disruption along Spirit Airlines’ busy route map and has caused a great deal of confusion amongst travelers. Some passengers were booked on flights that were canceled and were confused as to why they weren’t offered alternative flights. Furthermore, it isn’t clear if passengers booked on canceled flights will be able to receive refunds or be given vouchers to book replacement flights.
At the moment, Spirit Airlines appears to be taking proactive steps to provide travel solutions to passengers who are booked on flights that are canceled due to the aircraft inspections. However, given the wide-reaching impact of this move, it doesn’t look like the disruption will end anytime soon. As such, Spirit Airlines travelers should take extra time to check for updates on the airline’s website so they can plan their travel accordingly.
