Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines announced early Saturday that it is ceasing operations and that all flights have been canceled, stranding thousands of customers.
The announcement came one day after reports that Spirit would shut down following the Trump administration’s failure to reach a bailout agreement with the airline. President Donald Trump told reporters Friday that a final offer had been made to Spirit.
Spirit has filed for bankruptcy twice in the past two years. The airline said this time it could not continue flying amid higher oil and fuel prices.
“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry,” said Dave Davis, Spirit’s president and CEO. “In March 2026, we reached an agreement with our bondholders on a restructuring plan that would have allowed us to emerge as a go-forward business. However, the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the company.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the Biden administration, claiming that Spirit's rejected merger with JetBlue led to the airline's demise. The Biden administration said in 2024 that the merger would have led to an antitrust violation and reduced options for consumers.
"Regardless of how we got here, the Trump Administration is committed to taking care of you and your family when you fly. In a matter of hours, we’ve activated our airline partners to ensure passengers are not stranded, communities maintain route access, fares do not skyrocket, and Spirit’s workforce is connected to new job opportunities," Duffy said.
RELATED STORY | Spirit Airlines says it's operating normally despite reports it will shut down
Many Spirit employees learned of the closure through news reports Friday, before the company confirmed the decision. The airline said it is working to bring home 1,300 crew members.
Customers have been directed to a website to check refund status and lost baggage claims. Refunds will be issued automatically to the credit card used to purchase the fare. Spirit also urged passengers not to go to the airport.
With the abrupt cancellations, several other airlines announced expanded service and discounts for displaced Spirit customers. United, JetBlue and Frontier were among the carriers offering reduced fares.
RELATED STORY | Trump considers a taxpayer takeover of Spirit Airlines and would aim to resell carrier
Rebooking on other airlines
Duffy said United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest are capping ticket prices specifically for Spirit customers who now need to rebook canceled flights. Travelers just need to provide proof of payment to access these discounted flights.
Duffy said that American, Delta and Frontier are also offering discounts on routes serviced by Spirit.
Support for employees
While Spirit said it is working on getting crew members home, Duffy said most major U.S. carriers are extending travel pass benefits and spare jump seats to affected workers.
