Spirit Airlines Pilots Grounded

Pilots at the privately owned and operated Spirit Airlines have decided to ground all Spirit flights and go on strike in the wake of failed negotiations with the management over new contracts.

"Spirit pilots are willing to withdraw their services to get the contract they deserve," said Captain John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), in announcing the job action.

According to ALPA, talks with the management had been going for 4 years now and all the pilots had been working at below market rates for years and under substandard work rules.

Accroding to company officials, the company has offered to increase pilot salaries by 30% over a period of five years and have decided to retain the four-day-off break between every flight regulation. The pilots would also receive a $3,000 signing bonus and an 8% 401-K match.

According to Ben Baldanza, the chief executive, "We are frustrated and disappointed that our pilots have turned down [the offer] while disrupting thousands of our customers and jeopardizing the livelihoods of our over 2,000 employees."

Due to the pilot strike all Spirit flights were cancelled on Saturday and customers would get credit for the full amount of the flight, as well an extra $100 toward a future flight.