Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International) said it had called back nearly 500 pilots it furloughed during its current and past Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedures, as it prepares to emerge from this second reorganisation process.

"Recalled Pilots were sent a notice on ​March 9, 2026, and those who accept will return to ​duty in the timeframe detailed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement," Spirit said in a memo reported by CNBC.

Parent company Spirit Aviation Holdings is preparing to emerge from Chapter 11 after it reached a restructuring deal in principle with its lenders. It will heavily reduce its fleet, focusing on routes with strong demand and peak travel periods.

In the memo, the airline said that pilot attrition had been higher than forecasted, making the alignment between staffing and a reduced schedule “more challenging.” It added: “While these recalls won’t arrive in time to support the spring break-Easter period, they strengthen the foundation of our post-bankruptcy future.”

In late December 2025, the company cancelled the planned furlough of 365 pilots to address the attrition levels. In parallel, the low-cost carrier has also set in motion a recall for nearly 500 furloughed flight attendants, CNBC reported.