Long queues, stranded passengers and more than half of flights canceled as Spirit Airlines enters day five of “operational problems”

Spirit Airlines struggles to bounce back as it enters its fifth day of widespread cancellations. As of Thursday evening, Spirit had canceled 55% of the day’s scheduled flights, according to the global aviation database, FlightAware.

Spirit spokesman Erik Hofmeyer attributed the widespread delays and cancellations to “operational issues,” including staff shortages, extreme weather conditions and system outages that began on Sunday. Spirit offers to double his salary so that flight attendants work extra shifts.

Hofmeyer, along with the airline’s pilots and flight attendants union, denied rumors that the travel problems stemmed from a pilots’ strike. “This is completely wrong,” said Hofmeyer.

He said on Wednesday that a restart of the network would help “gradually lower” cancellations in the coming days and that the lines had “decreased considerably”. But as of Thursday, more than 430 flights had been canceled.

Spirt told CBS News on Thursday that cancellations will continue throughout the week and weekend, but will decrease. They said the main issue right now is crew planning and a plan is in place.

Dallas resident Kai Scates told CBS News Spirit’s troubles turned her weekend into a four-day “nightmare.” She said five flights were canceled as she tried to return from New York with Spirit Airlines on Sunday.

“We got on the plane and sat on the plane for about 25 minutes, then one of the flight attendants got up and told us our flight had been canceled,” Scates told About one of his flights with Spirit. “So I got off the plane, got off to change reservations and hundreds of people were trying to line up because their flights had also been canceled.”

Between sleeping at the airport and traveling to three different cities, Scates said she returned home late Wednesday night, missing days of work. “I haven’t been able to speak to anyone with anyone, I can’t get anyone to answer,” she said. “It was crazy.”

Spirit Airlines said on Wednesday it “sincerely apologizes” for the widespread blackouts and that the airline is working to reimburse canceled flights and re-host guests where possible.

The airline’s flight attendants union said it had had a call with the pilots’ union and the company’s CEO and COO.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience this has caused,” said Hofmeyer, noting that the crews “were working tirelessly to alleviate travel disruption.”

He asked Spirit passengers to check the flight status notifications on their website before heading to the airport.