After more than three decades operating in the United States airline industry, Spirit Airlines announced the cancellation of all its flights and left affected passengers without customer service. The low-cost airline reported that it began an orderly cessation of its operations, with immediate effect, after failing to overcome its financial crisis.
The decision marks the end of a company that came to operate hundreds of flights daily and employed close to 17,000 people in the United States. Spirit had for years been one of the main options for travelers seeking cheap tickets, especially on domestic routes, to the Caribbean and Latin America.
In a statement published on May 2 on its official page, the airline confirmed the cancellation of all its flights and the suspension of customer service: “Dear passengers: all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available. We take pride in the impact that our low-cost model has had on the industry over the last 33 years and we expected to continue serving our passengers for many more years.”
In its announcement, the company also warned passengers not to report to the airports, as the airline does not have staff available to assist them or rebook them on flights of other carriers.
The shutdown comes after several years of financial difficulties. The airline had been incurring losses since the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to facing higher operating costs, an increase in its debt, and an increasingly competitive market.
Spirit’s exit could have effects on flight prices, especially for travelers who relied on cheap fares. Analysts have warned that the disappearance of a low-cost airline can reduce competition on some routes and push prices higher, especially in markets where Spirit had a significant presence.
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Dave Davis, president and chief executive of Spirit explained that “the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately left us with no alternative but to begin an orderly cessation of the company. Keeping the business running required hundreds of millions of dollars in additional liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could not obtain. This is tremendously disappointing and is not the outcome any of us wanted.”
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What should affected passengers do?
Travelers with Spirit-scheduled flights should check their confirmation email, keep their reservation number, and verify whether they bought the ticket directly from the airline or through a third party. Those who paid by card can check with their bank or issuing company if the refund does not appear in the coming days. The Department of Transportation also recommends checking whether travel insurance covers insolvency or service suspension cases.
The United States Department of Transportation reported that several airlines have begun offering temporary options for affected passengers. Among them are American Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Allegiant, Frontier, Avelo and Breeze, although conditions vary by each company. Some offer limited fares, discounts, or special prices for those who can demonstrate that they had a reservation canceled with Spirit.
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Caleb Morrison