By Jaclyn Giovis and
Jorge Valens | Spirit Airlines is resuming some flights sooner
than expected, as it gears up to full operations after settling a
five-day strike.

At least five departures were listed for late Thursday on flight
information boards at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

They indicate Spirit plans to fly its 3:57 p.m. departure to Chicago, a 4:01 departure to New York, an 8:01 flight to Orlando, an 8:05 flight to New York and an 8:40 departure to Atlanta. Evening flights are also scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale from Washington, D.C., Atlantic City, N.J., and Detroit.

Spirit had indicated that Thursday flights were canceled, a  decision made before an announcement of a settlement Wednesday afternoon.

In an e-mail, spokeswoman Misty Pinson said 22 flights have been scheduled for Thursday by Spirit, which on a normal day has about 150 flights.

Airport spokesman Greg Meyer said Spirit has nine departures scheduled Thursday. In addition to the five  listed, he cited flights to Managua, Nicaragua; San Juan and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and a third flight to New York.

The settlement between Spirit and its 500 pilots is still contingent on a return-to-work agreement and final language, said Sean Creed, head of the pilots union at Spirit. Rank-and-file pilots also must ratify the contract. A vote is expected in July.

Notice that flights would resume Friday was posted on the company’s website. Spirit is offering passengers a $50 discount on round-trip flights booked by midnight Friday and 5,000 free Spirit flier miles.

“We apologize” to customers who were stranded, Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza said, “and look forward to earning back their trust.”