Spirit Airlines cancels flights ahead of pilot strike

US low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines has canceled some flights this weekend in anticipation of a possible pilots’ strike.

Yesterday, USA Today reported that the airline would not interrupt service should the strike go ahead, though it was not clear how the airline intended to cover flights:

Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson tells The Associated Press the carrier is “partnering with other air carrier providers to continue to serve our customers.” Pinson did not say which airlines Spirit would work with, nor did she offer details about whether the carrier planned to fly a full or partial schedule in the event of a strike.

Spirit and the pilots union remained locked in negotiations, with a deadline of 12:01 am tomorrow to reach an agreement before the airlines pilots stage a walkout. Pilots are negotiating with the airline over pay, which they say is far lower than industry standard. Aol reports that the airline has started reaching out to customers over cancellations for flights this weekend:

The Florida-based airline began canceling some weekend flights and has been contacting customers to help them with alternate travel plans, AP said. A reservations agent told the AP that all weekend flights out of Spirit’s Fort Lauderdale hub had been “suspended.”

Spirit runs about 150 flights each day in the US.