Inside Spirit Airlines' final hours
Spirit Airlines shutdown ends the budget carrier's 3-decade run after bailout talks failed Flights were canceled and service stopped; see why the airline collapsed and what travelers can do next
Spirit Airlines shut down operations early Saturday after a lastminute government bailout effort collapsed, ending a threedecade run for the lowcost carrier.
The airline had long been known for its bright yellow planes and barebones fares that made budget travel more accessible across the U.S., the Caribbean, and Latin America. In its final day, Spirit canceled international flights first and later informed customers that all flights were canceled and customer service was no longer available.
The collapse followed years of financial pressure, including weak profitability since 2019, intense competition, rising costs, a failed JetBlue deal, engine problems, and higher fuel prices. The shutdown resulted in the loss of more than 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, while other airlines moved to help stranded travelers by capping fares and adding capacity.