Spirit Airlines back up and flying on Friday

Spirit Airlines and the union representing striking pilots reached a tentative agreement Wednesday.

The Florida-based airline said on its website it will start flying again Friday, nearly a week after pilots walked out over a salary dispute.  

The Air Line Pilots Association announced the deal Wednesday afternoon and said details were still being worked out on an agreement, but final negotiations were expected to move along smoothly. Details of the accord weren't available. 

The strike began last Saturday and negotiations re-started Tuesday. 

Spirit and its pilots have spent nearly three years trying to work out a deal on raises. Although the airline had offered more money, the pilots argued that pay was lower than their discount-airline counterparts such as AirTran and JetBlue Airways. They complained that they would have to fly more to get extra money and the increases were spread out beyond the proposed five-year contract. 

The strike unexpectedly grounded Spirit, leaving stranded the approximately 16,000 people they fly daily.