Union Response to Spirit Airlines Exit From EWR

Statement from Ana Maria Hill, Vice President and New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU, on Spirit Airlines’ Exit from Newark Liberty International Airport and Growing Concerns Over Airline Consolidation at EWR:

The bankruptcy of Spirit Airlines means Newark Liberty International is losing its second largest carrier. This moment requires us to take stock of airline consolidation at EWR and make sure we chart a path forward that benefits passengers, workers, and our economy.

New Jersey workers and passengers do not need less competition at Newark Airport — they need more. United Airlines already controls an overwhelming share of operations at Newark, and travelers and airport workers experience higher prices, fewer choices, overcrowding, operational failures, and growing pressure to cut costs on the backs of workers.

As the space left behind by Spirit is reassigned, federal regulators and the Port Authority must ensure these slots do not simply further consolidate United’s control at Newark. Those opportunities should go to other carriers — especially airlines willing to increase competition and help bring down prices for working families.

We are also deeply concerned about what continued consolidation and cost-cutting mean for airport workers. Workers servicing United aircraft at Newark have faced cuts to full-time jobs, threats to fully employer-paid healthcare, and the erosion of benefits workers fought years to secure. After the transition from Prospect Aviation to United Ground Express, workers saw their hours reduced, healthcare costs increase, and long-standing protections weakened.

32BJ SEIU has also filed formal complaints against United Airlines and United Ground Express alleging violations of New Jersey’s Healthy Terminals Act, a law designed to protect essential airport workers and ensure they have access to quality healthcare. Workers should not be forced to sacrifice stability, healthcare, and dignity so corporations can maximize profits.

The future of Newark Airport cannot be built around one dominant airline controlling the market while workers and passengers pay the price. We need an airport system that values competition, affordability, reliability, and respect for the workers who keep this industry running every single day.