jetBlue Merger: What It Means For Spirit Crews

Fellow Spirit Flight Attendants,

Today marks the start of a new merger. Spirit and jetBlue management announced yesterday that a merger agreement has been reached.  Shortly after this agreement was reached and publicly announced, AFA leadership was quick to jump into view with reassuring messages and support amidst the chatter and many feelings that result from this announcement. Sara Nelson, our AFA International President, did a live video feed on our Official AFA Facebook Group Page. You may view and play back the video here.

Mergers take time and require various approvals. The merger is not a sure thing and nothing will happen overnight as we’ve learned and lived this over the last six months. Right now we have to stick together because the airlines are very clear about how this will benefit shareholders and consumers - together we  can achieve the same clarity for benefits for Flight Attendants.

AFA will fight for the best outcome and withhold our support for the merger until or unless we can confirm it maintains our rights and provides benefits for Spirit AFA members - and all Flight Attendants at a combined airline.

We are gathering information, reviewing the proposed merger, and our Spirit AFA Master Executive Council (MEC) will meet with our International Officers and staff to conduct this review. Our union has significant experience in mergers and all of that will benefit us now.

At this point — only the merger proposal has been announced — the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not conducted its antitrust review and approval by the DOJ is necessary for the merger financial transaction to close. 

Know this - no matter how the carriers describe the deal or what the combined airline will be called, the ultimate transaction is a merger and both our contract and our union membership affords us rights in the process. Please review the Merger section of the Spirit AFA Contract and the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws, Section X. 

The media release from AFA International, can be found here. Spirit and jetBlue’s release can be found here.

Separate from this announcement, we continue to push forward in regular contract negotiations. Your Spirit AFA Negotiating Committee was at the table this week.

AFA will work hard to update you with the latest information. You can count on correct information through your AFA communications.

This will not happen tomorrow, next week or next month. As the process progresses, we will keep you updated. 

We are Stronger Together and Better Together. Wear your AFA pin, stay calm and fly on!

AFA Merger Q & As - IF the merger moves forward!

Q. Spirit is being “bought” by jetBlue, what does that mean for AFA representation?

A.  We are your union and we’re not going anywhere. No matter what airline management is calling this deal it will be treated as a merger. AFA represents Spirit Flight Attendants and we will always fight for Spirit Flight Attendants and all Flight Attendants. 

Q. When would the operations of the two carriers be merged?

A. It will be a while, maybe years. This is a journey of a thousand steps, many beyond our control, and the companies’ control. Throughout it all, your AFA leadership will be representing your best interests and negotiating for the best outcome for Flight Attendants.

Q. What is the Timeline for a Corporate Merger?

A. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must approve the merger and determine that it does not violate any antitrust laws or regulations. Only after the DOJ gives its approval to the transaction, can the actual conclusion of the financial transaction (corporate merger) happen. There is no set timeline for the DOJ review and approval.

Notable Video Highlights & Excerpts:

"Our support for the merger will depend upon securing clear benefits for AFA Spirit members and for all flight attendants at the combined airline."

"These things happen over a series of time, there are regulatory approvals that have to be in place. It's advantageous for the companies to have our support, doesn't depend on our support, but is advantageous, and we will withhold that until we can lock in from them exactly what benefits will be in place for Flight Attendants."

"No business decision will ever determine the worth of a Flight Attendant."

"Regardless of what this transaction is called, at the end of the day, it is a merger. You have merger protections, and you have your union behind you every step of the way." 

"We are in this together. It is management that is trying to extract any costs that they can off of your backs in any kind of merger, and we are going to stand together as Flight Attendants to ensure this merger works for us just like it works for any shareholder."

"Management has to prove to us how this is going to work for you. With that they'll get our support, or our opposition if they can't do that."

Click HERE to view the official statement.

In Solidarity,

Your Spirit AFA MEC and AFA International Officers