Union pilots say they’ll help restore Spirit operations

Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.

Irate passengers swarmed ticket counters and some started a near-riot at Fort Lauderdale’s airport after Spirit Airlines canceled nine flights, blaming the decision on pilots’ failure to show up.

Hundreds were left stranded at the airlines’ Florida terminal late Monday. The chaos was the latest instance of airlines dealing with high-profile customer frustration. Problems began last month with cellphone video capturing a passenger being dragged off a United Airlines flight. Other horror stories from customers surfaced later involving flights on Delta and American airlines.

Deputies arrested three people from New York in the Fort Lauderdale airport, charging them with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and trespassing.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office said about 500 people were crowded into Spirit’s terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport late Monday night after the airline canceled the flights because there were no pilots. Video posted online showed deputies grappling with screaming passengers and breaking up fights.

The discount airline says pilots are refusing to pick up open flying assignments, which Spirit claims is an illegal and concerted plot by the Air Line Pilots Association to apply pressure during contract negotiations. It has filed a lawsuit, saying it has had to cancel about 300 flights nationally and internationally over the past week because of the union’s actions. Another 36 were canceled Tuesday.

Federal District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas issued a temporary restraining order against the union Tuesday, ordering its member pilots to not engage in any boycotts or slowdown, saying that would violate federal law.

Spirit spokesman Paul Berry issued a statement apologizing to customers and saying the company is “shocked and saddened” by the Fort Lauderdale melee.

“We believe this is the result of intimidation tactics by a limited number of our pilots affecting the behavior of the larger group,” Berry said.

The union has denied the accusation, but said in a statement that its members will obey the judge’s order with the goal of helping Spirit resume normal operations.

Airline analyst Robert Mann said it doesn’t take many pilots calling in sick or refusing to accept extra shifts for Spirit or any airline to find itself in the position of having to cancel numerous flights. An airline doesn’t have that many reserve pilots on call, he said, and they have to be in the right place to step in.