ST PAUL, Minn. — Spirit Airlines, the go-to airline for travelers on a budget, has canceled hundreds of flights nationwide over the past few days, and their problems show no hope of a quick resolution.
FlightAware, the online resource for checking the status of delayed and canceled flights, shows that as of Thursday morning, Spirit had canceled more than 350 flights. That's around 46% of their scheduled takeoffs.
Travelers leaving Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are no exception, as four of the five scheduled departing flights and four of the five incoming Spirit flights were canceled Thursday.
There were rumors of a pilot strike over the weekend, but in an email, representatives from the airline denied the claims.
"There is no strike," Spirit representative Field Sutton said. "I’m aware of the rumor of a pilot strike, but it’s 100% false. We have a fantastic team of pilots working very hard during this busy travel season."
On Monday, Spirit said the delays and cancellations stem from 'operational challenges,' but didn't offer any further insight into the ongoing issues.
CNN reported that the airline issued an apology to passengers on Wednesday, as the delays first reported over the weekend stretched into their fourth day.
"The last three days were extremely difficult for our Guests and Team Members, and for that we sincerely apologize," the airline said in a statement. "We continue to work around the clock to get our Guests where they need to be."
The airline said that overlapping weather challenges, system outages and staffing shortages as causes for the widespread cancellations and delays, according to CNN.
If you're scheduled to fly on Spirit Airlines in the near future, the company recommends you check the status of your flight before heading to the airport.