FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - A judge has ruled in favor of Spirit Airlines after a pilot’s strike caused multiple flights to be canceled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The situation began after Spirit pilots went on strike in regards to negotiations on their contract. Spirit filed a lawsuit against the Pilots Association. On Tuesday, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order and set a hearing for a preliminary injunction.
In other words, the judge ruled in favor of the airline and told the pilots to return to work.
Spirit said the pilots’ actions has led to the cancelation of about 300 flights since the beginning of May, affecting the travel plans of 20,000 passengers.
Kaydia Brooks is one of those passengers who has been affected by the strike. “My legs are hurting, and there’s a baby in my tummy, so I am upset,” she said.
Tensions were also running high at FLL, where nine flights were canceled each on Sunday and Monday and six flights were canceled Tuesday at FLL.
A massive uproar broke out as large crowds waited in the check-in area, Monday, leading Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies to arrest two men and a woman, all from New York, for disorderly conduct.
Everything had calmed down by Tuesday, but many passengers were still dealing with canceled flights.
One couple was left waiting for a new flight to Jamaica, where they are headed to for their wedding.
“I was like, Oh, my gosh, babe, here comes the shenanigans,” the bride-to-be said.
Their first flight was canceled, but Spirit quickly solved it, the couple said.
“Within 10 minutes, we were on a new plane, scheduled to make our connecting flight. Everything was smooth,” the groom-to-be said.
In response to the ruling, the Air Line Pilots Association released a statement which read in part, “The court has spoken and Spirit pilots will fully comply with the order handed down, which is completely in line with our overriding goal: the resumption of normal operations. We call on the company to join forces with ALPA and the Spirit pilots to do just that.”
Spirit Airlines also released a statement apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience and said they are ready to put the ordeal behind them.
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