Spirit Airlines said on Thursday it expects its load factor for the fourth quarter to average about 70%, despite the slowdown in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company said beginning with the period leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, rising COVID-19 cases have led to fewer bookings and a rise in cancellations.

(Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) ((SanjanaSitara.Shivdas@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780, outside U.S. +91 80 6749 1642; Twitter: @SanjanaShivdas;))