WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Spirit Airlines, an airline that shook up the industry with its deep discount fares, is going out of business after 33 years.
In an announcement shared Saturday on the airline’s website, the company said all flights had been canceled, effectively immediately, and customer service was no longer available as it winds down operations.
“We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 33 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,” the announcement said.
The company advised customers that they could expect refunds but there would be no help in booking travel on other airlines.
The announcement comes about two weeks after the troubled airline said it could liquidate in the coming days as it faced new challenges due to fuel costs, while also recovering from its second bankruptcy.
The Trump administration had considered a government bailout for Spirit Airlines to keep it from going under, but a deal was not reached.
As late as Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump had said that “we’re looking at it” and had given the budget carrier a “final proposal” for a taxpayer-funded takeover.
Supporters of a rescue, including labor unions representing Spirit’s pilots, flight attendants and ramp workers said a collapse would put thousands of Americans out of work and hurt consumers by reducing airline competition and increasing airfares. About 17,000 jobs could be impacted, according to Spirit lawyer Marshall Huebner.
Spirit has struggled financially since the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed down by rising operating costs and growing debt. By the time it filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024, Spirit had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020.
The budget carrier sought bankruptcy protection again in August 2025, when it reported having $8.1 billion in debts and $8.6 billion in assets, according to court filings.
The carrier flew about 1.7 million domestic passengers in February, roughly half a million fewer than during the same month a year earlier, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Spirit also has sharply reduced its capacity, with about half as many seats available this month as in May 2024.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that travelers booked on Spirit flights could access special prices on a group of other airlines for a limited time, and that other carriers would help Spirit pilots and flight attendants return to their home cities. In a statement, he said travelers could check with their credit card company or travel insurance policy about refunds.
Travelers can also learn more about the closing online or can contact the airline’s claims agent, Epiq, by emailing SpiritAirlinesInfo@epiqglobal.com or calling 855-952-6606.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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