Spirit Airlines cancels flights through Tuesday

Discount air carrier Spirit Airlines Sunday canceled all its flights through Tuesday as a strike of its pilots entered its second day, officials said.

Meanwhile, officials with the Port Authority said the strike's impact on the New York area's three major airports appears to be minimal.

"There have been no passengers stranded, no backups at ticket counters," said Steve Coleman, spokesman with the Port Authority, which operates Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports. "Things have been going very smoothly."

The Miramar, Fla.-based airline's 440 active pilots have been on strike since Saturday after failing to come to terms with the company over a new contract. The pilots say they are underpaid compared with those at competing airlines.

Spirit initially said it would continue to operate flights using management pilots or others who would cross the picket line. But on its website Sunday, Spirit announced it was canceling all flights until Tuesday.

"None of the planes are moving and none of our pilots have crossed the picket line," Paul Hopkins, strike committee chairman of Spirit's unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, told The Associated Press Sunday.

The airline offered passengers with previously booked flights credits for the full amount of their flights plus an additional $100.

"Spirit Airlines is continuing to work with our pilot union to reach a fair and equitable agreement that ensures the long-term stability of the company, and allows us to continue offering you the ultra low fares you have come to know and love," the company said in a statement.

Locally, Spirit primarily flies in and out of LaGuardia Airport, but Coleman said it appeared that Spirit did a good job "getting the word out," avoiding stranded passengers here.