HOUSTON – The sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines has left thousands of employees without jobs, income or health insurance, forcing many to scramble for work and basic benefits.
For Houston-based flight attendant Mariner Peeples, the reality set in the morning after operations ceased.
Recommended Videos
“Waking up today knowing, hey, there’s nowhere to go … the whole operation is, we’re all done, we’re all at home feeling the same things every single day. It’s very overwhelming, and it hits a little bit more every day.” Peeples said. “It’s very overwhelming, and it hits a little bit more every day.”
Peeples, who spent seven years with the airline after joining straight out of college, said the closure has disrupted not just her career but her daily routine and sense of community.
“We all know each other,” she said of the Houston base. “They really do become your family.”
The airline shut down Saturday, ending operations abruptly and leaving workers with little time to prepare.
Peeples said one of her first concerns was the immediate loss of health insurance.
“I don’t have healthcare. I can’t go to the doctor,” she said. “People were scrambling to go get prescriptions filled because we only had that day.”
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents cabin crews, directed affected workers to emergency resources following the closure. The Air Line Pilots Association described the shutdown as a “devastating blow” impacting more than 2,000 pilots and thousands of additional employees.
For many, finding a new job in aviation will not be immediate.
Peeples said airline hiring is highly competitive and often limited to short application windows.
“Most airlines don’t even keep applications up on a rolling basis,” she said. “You could apply somewhere in December … and not start till March.”
Even after being hired, new flight attendants typically undergo six to eight weeks of unpaid training, she said, adding to financial strain.
“You’re unpaid … everything at home is still going,” Peeples said.
The uncertainty has forced some workers to consider leaving the industry altogether.
“It involves moving,” she said. “You don’t really pick where you go.”
Peeples said she is financially stable for about a month but remains unsure what comes next. She has applied to two airlines and filed for unemployment.
“I’m just trying to do a little bit every day,” she said.
The closure also raises concerns for travelers who relied on the airline’s low fares.
Peeples said many passengers, especially families, depended on the carrier for affordable trips.
“The difference between Spirit and the other airlines, it’s a vast difference,” she said. “It breaks my heart to think that they can’t afford to go anywhere anymore.”
As former employees weigh their next steps, Peeples said the emotional toll continues to grow.
“Every day that you wake up, it feels more and more intense,” she said.