Spirit tries to upgrade image as on-time figures improve
Since Spirit Airlines launched in 2007 as an ultralow-cost carrier, the Florida-based airline has developed a reputation for dirt cheap, no-frill airfares, low on-time arrival rates and high flight cancellations.
But Spirit Airlines seems to be making some progress in fixing its tarnished image.
Spirits' on-time arrival rate for May was 80 percent — higher than the rate for JetBlue (71 percent), Southwest (76 percent), American (78 percent) and United (79 percent) but still below carriers Hawaiian (91 percent), Delta (85 percent) and Alaska (82 percent), according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The numbers for Spirit are a dramatic improvement from the same month last year, when the carrier's on-time rate was 69 percent and its rate of canceled flights was about 6 percent.
Greg Christopher, vice president of operations control center for Spirit, promised that the improvements are not a onemonth fluke. He said the airline has been aware of its reputation for late arrivals and high cancellation rates and has taken action to fix it, including adjusting crew work schedules to ensure staff members are ready to fly on time and adding time between takeoffs and landings.