Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-132 N503NK (msn 2470) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) and its pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA) announced yesterday (June 16) that they reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The contract, which was unanimously recommended by the union’s leadership, is subject to ratification by the pilot membership which is planned for July.

Pending ratification, Spirit’s pilots are returning to work, and the airline will resume operations on Friday, June 18.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-132 N503NK (msn 2470) taxies to the active runway at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood base.

Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-132 N503NK (msn 2470) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Spirit Airlines’ (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) pilots struck the company this morning at 5:00 a.m. (0500), grounding all flights.

The union issued this statement:

“Spirit pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), went on strike against their company—and will not return to the cockpit until a fair and equitable contract is negotiated. Pilot negotiators agreed to extend the strike deadline twice in order to review final proposals put forth by both parties to keep the airline running. In the end, both sides could not reach an agreement.”

“Immediately after 5:00 a.m., the Spirit Pilot Master Executive Council, as authorized by our pilots, called for and instituted a lawful strike against our management,” announced Captain Sean Creed, head of the Spirit unit of ALPA.

Meanwhile the company issued this statement:

“Spirit Airlines with the help of the National Mediation Board worked tirelessly through the night until 5:00 am to reach a fair and equitable agreement with its pilot union.

Spirit offered over 30 percent pay increases totaling $70 million over five years, net of productivity improvements. At the same time, the pilots would have retained a four-day off break between each and every trip, a feature not found in any other ALPA contract.

In addition, under the offer each pilot would have received a $3,000 signing bonus. The pilots would also receive an eight percent 401-K match in years one through three with an increase to nine percent in year four, while all other Spirit employees only receive a three percent match.”

“We are frustrated and disappointed that our pilots have turned down an over 30 percent increase at a cost of over $70 million over five years while disrupting thousands of our customers and jeopardizing the livelihoods of our over 2,000 employees,” said Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ben Baldanza.

As a result of the pilots’ decision to strike, Spirit Airlines flights are cancelled for Saturday, June 12, 2010.

For those customers whose flights are cancelled, Spirit is processing a credit for the full amount of the flight, as well as providing a $100 future flight credit.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. The ultra low-cost carrier’s Airbus A319-132 N503NK (msn 2470) arrives at the FLL base before the strike.