Angry Passengers Left Stranded By Spirit Airline Cancellations
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of travelers were caught on video erupting in angry shouts after discounter Spirit Airlines canceled nine flights out of Florida.
The flight cancellations were not due to any passenger disruptions or overbooking issues, as has been the problem involving other airlines recently, but a contentious labor negotiation between Spirit and the pilots association.
Three people were arrested and another was detained after what some say was a riot at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Monday night, according to CBS Miami.
Spirit Airlines says the melee was "a result of unlawful labor activity by some Spirit pilots designed to disrupt Spirit operations for our customers by canceling multiple flights across our network."
The pilots association said in a statement that they are not engaged in a job action, but that "Spirit pilots are continuing to do everything possible to help restore the company's operations, which have experienced significant problems over the past several days."
Hector Hatch was at Los Angeles International Airport early Tuesday morning, trying to get back to New York for work. He said the airlines agents were unresponsive to his inquiries about his flight's status.
"They're not trying to help you," Hatch said. "They're not trying to help you to go to another airline or anything like that, so I don't know what to do.
At least two Spirit Airlines flights headed for Los Angeles was canceled, while another was delayed.
