Spirit Airlines cancels 277 flights in ONE DAY leaving thousands of passengers stranded over ‘operational challenges’

TRAVELERS faced chaos in certain states on Monday when Spirit Airlines canceled hundreds of flights in one day. The airline canceled 277 flights Monday, which amounts to about 36 percent of its scheduled flights. Plus, Spirit canceled 165 flights on Sunday as well, according to FlightAware, which tracks flights.  “We are experiencing operational challenges in […]

TRAVELERS faced chaos in certain states on Monday when Spirit Airlines canceled hundreds of flights in one day.

The airline canceled 277 flights Monday, which amounts to about 36 percent of its scheduled flights.

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Hundreds of Spirit Airlines flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded like those pictured here in Philadelphia.[/caption]

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The airline also dealt with numerous delayed flights in other states. These passengers were pictures waiting in line in Orlando.[/caption]

Plus, Spirit canceled 165 flights on Sunday as well, according to FlightAware, which tracks flights. 

“We are experiencing operational challenges in some areas of our network,” the Spirit Airlines Twitter account posted Monday, directing travelers to check the status of their flight before even heading to the airport. 

The Florida-based airline also had an extraordinary number of delayed flights, with 159 on Monday and 342 on Sunday, USA Today reported.

“We’re working around the clock to get back on track in the wake of some travel disruptions over the weekend due to a series of weather and operational challenges,” Spirit Airlines spokesman Erik Hofmeyer said via email to the outlet. 

“We needed to make proactive cancellations to some flights across the network, but the majority of flights are still scheduled as planned.”

Aggravated fliers took to Twitter to speak out about the cancellations and delays.

“I will never book a spirit airline flight again! What a great way to ruin a vacation!” one person wrote on Spirit’s Tweet about the “operational challenges” causing the issues. 

“Operational challenges is an understatement!” another person wrote. “One of your representatives HUNG UP on us while we were trying to get information on our flight that was canceled! Horrible customer service.”

Photos and videos on social media showed just how bad the situation had gotten, with images of frustrated would-be passengers waiting in long lines and camping out with their luggage. 

“When #spiritairlines leaves you stranded in Puerto Rico with no employees in sight and holds your luggage and money hostage,” one person captioned a video they shared of the scene at their location.

“We were stuck overnight with no clothes or essentials for our 3 or 1 year olds and are still without answers and searching for flights.”

Some social media users claimed Spirit workers were on strike, but in an email to KARE-11, a representative claimed that was not the case.

“There is no strike,” Spirit representative Field Sutton said in an email to the outlet. 

“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.”

And Spirit wasn’t the only airline that canceled flights Monday.

American Airlines also canceled 429 flights on Monday, working out to about 14 percent of scheduled flights.

The airline also delayed hundreds of other flights in the wake of Sunday storms in Dallas, where American has a major hub. 

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Flights were canceled or delayed in several states as well as in Puerto Rico.[/caption]

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Spirit Airlines said the interruptions were due to “operational challenges.”[/caption]