Spirit Airlines ceased operations Saturday morning, cancelling all flights immediately, according to The New York Times.
The airline’s website announces “Spirit Is Winding Down All Operations” and advises “Spirit Guests should not go to the airport. For more information regarding your refund status and next steps, please visit our Guests page.”
The shutdown ends the run of a carrier that defined ultra-low fare air travel in the US, but had been struggling through heavy losses and two bankruptcy filings since 2024.
A proposed US$500 million federal assistance package failed to win agreement among investors and government representatives, and creditors urged Spirit’s board on Thursday to begin winding down the airline.
In a notice on its website, Spirit said rising oil prices and other business pressures had “greatly affected” its financial prospects, leaving it without further financial support and forcing the company to begin winding down operations.
