Spirit Airlines Halts Numerous Flights for Aircraft Inspections; Interruptions to Extend for Several Days

Spirit Airlines called off approximately 100 flights this past Friday due to the withdrawal of a number of aircraft for inspection procedures. The airline anticipates that the service interruptions will persist for a few days.

Although Spirit did not provide details about the nature of these inspections, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clarified that they pertain to the examination of brackets within the planes’ structural frameworks.

As of late Friday afternoon, Spirit had cancelled 11% of its day’s operations, which stands as the largest percentage of cancelled flights among leading American airlines, based on data from tracking service FlightAware.

In an official statement, Spirit elaborated, “We have suspended a subset of our scheduled flights to carry out essential inspections on 25 aircraft within our fleet. The resulting impact on our operations is projected to endure for multiple days while we conclude these inspections and strive to resume normal operations.”

The FAA confirmed its awareness of Spirit’s move to temporarily remove aircraft from active service for what it termed as “mandatory maintenance inspections.” According to FAA documentation, the required inspections focus on identifying any signs of cracking near the fasteners that connect pressure panels to structural beams within the aircraft’s framework. Failure to detect such cracks could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft and could potentially lead to a sudden loss of cabin pressure.

The phenomenon of fatigue cracks within aircraft frames is a well-established risk in aviation. The inspections Spirit is presently conducting align with long-standing mandates set forth by both U.S. and European aviation authorities, last updated by the FAA in 2018.

The FAA further assured that it would ascertain the satisfactory resolution of the issue before permitting the affected Spirit aircraft to re-enter service.

As of June 30, Spirit’s fleet consisted of 198 aircraft, all variants of the Airbus A320 family, as disclosed in a regulatory filing by the company.

Spirit advised passengers to confirm their flight status prior to heading to the airport.

Nearly half of Spirit’s flight cancellations occurred at Orlando International Airport in Florida, where the airline is the second-largest service provider.

Headquartered in Miramar, Florida, Spirit Airlines has canceled a total of 3,600 flights this year, amounting to 1.5% of its operational schedule. This cancellation rate is comparatively lower than the 2% observed at Frontier Airlines, a similar low-cost carrier, and the rates recorded for JetBlue Airways and United Airlines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Spirit Airlines cancellations

More about Spirit Airlines cancellations

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Official Website
• Spirit Airlines Operational Update
• FlightAware Tracking Service
• Airbus A320 Family Specifications
• Orlando International Airport Flight Information
• Spirit Airlines Regulatory Filings
• Frontier Airlines Cancellation Statistics
• JetBlue Airways Flight Cancellation Policy
• United Airlines Flight Status