WEST PALM BEACH — Spirit Airlines, the brash budget carrier that built its brand on rock-bottom fares and bright yellow planes, said Saturday it is going out of business after more than three decades and is winding down operations right away.
The airline posted a brief statement on its website announcing a shutdown of all operations, effective immediately. All flights have been canceled, and customer service lines have gone silent.
“We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,” the company said.
Passengers were told they should expect refunds for canceled tickets, but that Spirit would not help rebook them on other carriers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said other airlines had agreed to offer special fares for a limited time to anyone who had been booked on Spirit flights.
“In coordination with our airline partners, we’re taking action to bring relief to Spirit’s customers and its workforce,” Duffy said, adding that those carriers would also help get stranded pilots and flight attendants back to their home bases.
The sudden shutdown caps a long financial slide for the carrier. The Trump administration had considered a government bailout to keep the airline flying, but never reached a deal. President Donald Trump had floated the possibility as recently as last week, saying officials were reviewing what he called a “final proposal” that would have amounted to a taxpayer-backed rescue.
Spirit had already filed for bankruptcy protection twice in less than two years. Soaring jet fuel prices, heavy debt and a sharp drop in passengers since the COVID-19 pandemic had left the company bleeding cash. Labor unions had urged the White House to step in, warning that a collapse would wipe out roughly 17,000 jobs and leave budget travelers with fewer cheap options, especially in Florida cities such as Fort Lauderdale and Orlando and in Las Vegas.
In the end, no rescue came.
The airline, once known for irreverent ads and no-frills service that shook up the bigger carriers, advised customers to check with their credit card companies or travel insurance policies for refunds. It offered no further assistance.
Spirit’s exit marks the end of an era for one of the country’s most distinctive low-cost airlines. Its yellow jets had become a familiar sight at airports across the country, carrying millions of leisure travelers who counted on its deep discounts.
The company said refunds would be processed, but it warned that the process could take time.