Spirit Airlines Cancels 100 Flights for Mandatory Inspections
Spirit Airlines, a low-cost carrier based in the United States, has been forced to cancel approximately 100 flights due to inspections on their planes. The airline has not provided specific details about the nature of these inspections, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that they involve brackets on the planes’ airframes.
As of Friday afternoon, Spirit Airlines had canceled 11% of its scheduled flights, which is the highest percentage among all US carriers. The impact on their network is expected to last several days, according to a statement from the airline. The FAA has described these inspections as “mandatory maintenance inspections” and has expressed its commitment to resolving the issue before the planes return to service.
The inspections are necessary to detect signs of cracking around fasteners that attach pressure panels to beams on the planes’ airframes. The FAA last updated these inspection requirements in 2018, highlighting the importance of routine maintenance to ensure the safety of passengers.
Currently, Spirit Airlines has a fleet of 198 planes, all variants of the Airbus A320 family. The airline has advised its customers to check their flight status before heading to the airport to avoid any potential inconvenience caused by these cancellations.
The majority of the canceled flights occurred at Orlando International Airport, where Spirit is the second-largest carrier. This disruption comes as a blow to many passengers who have planned their travel, especially during the peak summer season.
It is worth noting that Spirit Airlines has already canceled over 3,600 flights this year, accounting for 1.5% of its overall schedule. While this cancellation rate is lower compared to Frontier Airlines, it is higher than the rates reported by JetBlue Airways and United Airlines.
Affected passengers are advised to stay updated with the latest information regarding their flights. Spirit Airlines is working diligently to resolve the inspections and minimize any further disruptions to their operations.
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