Spirit Airlines to cut flight capacity by 25%, eliminate jobs to prioritize ‘strongest markets’

Spirit Airlines will be reducing its flight capacity by a staggering 25% year-over-year, bringing with it a wave of job cuts starting in November, according to a company memo.

The devastating downsizing is being done to “optimize our network to focus on our strongest markets,” Spirit Airlines CEO Dave Davis announced to employees in the note obtained by The Post.

“These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline,” Davis acknowledged.

Exactly how many roles are on the chopping block is unclear.

Davis noted that the carrier will continue to evaluate the size of its fleet ahead of meetings with the airlines’ union leaders in the coming weeks, according to the memo.

In late August, Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in one year after its previous reorganization apparently fell through and made way for financial instability. Around the same time, it slashed flights to 11 cities while United Airlines stepped in to fill the gaps.

Spirit ramped up to try and repeat the process, which Davis assured in the memo is “continuing to take shape” — even though the company warned it might not survive through the year just a month earlier.

At the start of 2025, roughly 200 Spirit employees were laid off during early exploration into escaping bankruptcy.

The carrier’s woes have raised red flags about the viability of cheap flights and price-consciousness, as many others cater to premium travelers.

The airline originally made a name for itself by providing budget flights that were often jam-packed with unexpected surprises, including Hunger Games-style fights for seats and some of the most bizarre snafus.

On Wednesday, pilots aboard a Spirit jet accidentally swerved too close to Air Force One, which was carrying President Trump while he was en route to the United Kingdom for his historic second state visit.

The entire exchange between the cockpits of both planes was shared online and captured the quick ramp-up in directives as a controller aboard the president’s carrier finally snapped.

“Pay attention! Get off the iPad,” they snapped.

Both flights continued without incident.