NEW YORK – Luiggi Lozano Puccio, a Spirit Airlines employee in Puerto Rico that appears in a video on networks receiving the verbal attacks from an airline customer on the island that claimed him for the cancellation of a flightthanked the expressions of support that thousands have expressed to him through cyberspace.
The incident involving the Puerto Rican was reported on Friday, almost at the same time that the company reported its operational closure.
In the images, which went viral, Lozano Puccio is seen being questioned by a passenger whose flight was canceled from Luis Muñoz Marín Airport in San Juan, apparently, to Orlando, Florida.
Although several travelers surround the employee and demand explanations, the complaints of a man in a black t-shirt stand out among the noise.
“How did you not know that you were going to go bankrupt?” the subject questions.
Despite the pressure and shouting, the employee never raised his voice. Instead he stayed calm trying to reason with clients.
The images, with several replicas, have thousands of views after becoming popular on networks.
In a message yesterday from his Facebook account, Lozano Puccio took the opportunity to request help for other laid-off colleagues.
“In the video only I appear when everything explodedbut I wasn’t alone, I had an incredible team behind me, giving ‘toughen’ (support) at the ‘price counter’ (ticket counter). They handled the cancellation and deserve recognition. Maybe they have seen that they have given me job offers or help to get a job. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and support. But the rest of my team at Spirit is still in the dark. If in one way or another they have job offers for employees equally or more dedicated than me, I can direct them to them,” he shared from the platform.
A publication on the same network, but by Rafael Rabule Zayas, a Puerto Rican living in RhomeTexas, had more than 47,000 “Likes” early this afternoon; approximately 3,300 comments; and had been shared more than 12,000 times.
At the entrance, the man offers to help his compatriot, who lives in Carolina, with employment.
“If anyone knows and has contact with this colleague from Spirit, who appears in the video that went viral, please send him this message,” Rabule Zayas began the message.
In the submit, the Puerto Rican highlighted the mettle of Lozano Puccio.
“Yesterday, while many only saw a cancellation or worried about the money for their ticketwhich maybe could have been $100, $200, $300 or $400, I saw a top professional enduring pressure and unfair insults at a time when he himself faced the uncertainty of being left without a job, without economic stability and without support for his family,” he explained.
He continued: “From Dallas-Fortress Rate Airport, I want to express my complete respect to you. Your handling of the situation, remaining calm in the face of injury, says a lot about your character.. If you ever decide to transfer to Texas and pursue opportunities in this industry here in DFW, you have a colleague who is willing to help you in any way I can.”
“I would like to shake your hand and support you in that transition if you decide to take the step. You are not alone in this…”, the user concluded.
It is unclear how many Spirit employees in Puerto Rico were laid off. However, there are some cases in which workers received the notification by email, as reported by various media on and off the island.
On Saturday, Spirit announced it would cease operations and liquidate its fleet following the failure of a $500 million government bailout deal.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Saturday a series of measures, in coordination with airlines, to assist not only employees but affected travelers.
The agency said American Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Allegiant, Frontier, Avelo and Slip had agreed to support affected Spirit passengers with capped ticket prices specifically for Spirit customers who now need to rebook flights.
They also reported that American Airlines, Delta Air Traces and Allegiant are offering reduced fares on Spirit routes that see high volumes of traffic. In the case of Frontier, the company was offering discounts of up to 50% on unfriendly rates across its entire network until May 10.
Regarding former employees, most major US airlines extended travel pass benefits and the availability of jump seats for pilots, cabin crew and others who need to return home. They are also offering former Spirit team members preferential job interviews to ensure they are prioritized in the selection process.
In the case of affected Puerto Rican employeesthe Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH) on the island activated a arrangement to assist them in procedures such as applying for unemployment funds.
“The situation faced by these workers and their families is complex, and from the Department we are focused on providing them with immediate support and clear guidance so that they can access the available aid,” María del Pilar Vélez Casanova, secretary of the agency, said in a statement.
On the island, Spirit operated about nine routes.
The Secretary of Public Affairs, Jean Peña Payano, ruled out a significant impact of the brake on operations, at least as far as tourism is concerned.
“Regarding the direct tourist impact, we consider that Jet Blue, for now, has been addressing that. We have other airlines that, without a doubt, would have to see which other airline, if any, is going to be interested in increasing routes or if any new ones would arrive,” declared the spokesperson for the Administration of Jenniffer González Colón in a press conference on Sunday.
“Puerto Rico is a key air access bridge in the Caribbean and a high-demand destination. At the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, we remain in constant communication with the airlines that operate on the Island, evaluating alternatives to expand capacity and strengthen operations,” said the director of the Tourism Company, Willianette Robles, in a statement.
Keep reading:
- Spirit Airlines cancels all its flights: so you can get your money back before it’s too late
- Frontier, Delta and United offer tickets from $ninety nine after Spirit closes: how to take advantage of these fares
- Do you have a flight with Spirit? This happens with your money due to the risk of airline bankruptcy