A group of 23 former Spirit Airlines flight attendants has graduated from United Airlines’ training programme, marking the first large group of Spirit crew members who were still active when the airline stopped flying to earn their United wings.
The 23 former Spirit attendants graduated on October 1 as part of a class of 79 new United flight attendants. Spirit permanently ceased operations on May 2, 2026, leaving around 17,000 employees without jobs, according to the Association of Flight Attendants.
All 23 graduates had remained active Spirit flight attendants until the airline shut down. Their graduation represents an important new chapter for crew members who have moved on to United following Spirit’s closure.
Spirit flight attendants traditionally called themselves the “Bees.” At United, the union has welcomed former Spirit crew members as “Blue Bees.”
Several former Spirit flight attendants who had already joined United also attended the graduation ceremony and helped pin wings on their former colleagues, making the occasion especially meaningful for the group.
