ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 The shutdown of Spirit Airlines has left hundreds of employees in Orlando facing uncertainty, heartbreak and questions about how they will move forward after suddenly losing their jobs.<\/p>\n
Former workers gathered at one of the airline\u2019s now-closed operations centers near Orlando International Airport, many wearing their uniforms for what they said could be the final time. Employees hugged, cried and reflected on careers they believed would last until retirement.<\/p>\n
Spirit employees come together outside one of the former operations centers at MCO (Tylisa Hampton)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been hard,\u201d said former flight attendant Syn Harris. \u201cIt\u2019s been hard to get out of bed, it\u2019s been hard to do basic stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
The airline ceased operations over the weekend amid rising fuel costs tied to conflict in the Middle East, leaving workers scrambling for answers about unemployment benefits, future job prospects and unpaid wages.<\/p>\n
\u201cI filed for unemployment this morning,\u201d Harris said. \u201cIt\u2019s like I made so much to get peanuts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several employees said they learned about the shutdown while on the clock. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe news was reporting it before we got anything from the company,\u201d said former flight attendant Travis Arcamone. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Harris notes, \u201cWe just all need help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Workers also expressed concern about whether they will receive final paychecks for hours already worked as bills and financial obligations pile up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe the front-line workers might not even get paid for hours that we worked, and that\u2019s an extra stab in the heart because we are already losing our income,\u201d Arcamone said.<\/p>\n
Now former Spirit pilot Bart Terburg said the collapse has created fierce competition in an already difficult aviation job market.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was definitely going to retire here,\u201d Terburg said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not going to be easy because now you have a whole flood of pilots flooding the market and we are competing for the same bone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many former employees are now calling for federal or local assistance as they search for new jobs and financial support.<\/p>\n
\u201cOriginally this was a goodbye,\u201d Arcamone said, \u201cbut hopefully it\u2019s a see you later with what\u2019s going on with the campaign to save Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some employees said they remain hopeful help will come soon, though many acknowledged finding similar work may be difficult with so many displaced workers seeking the same positions.<\/p>\n
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