Spirit Airlines has shut down after years of financial struggles, heavy debt, and failed bailout talks, ending its 34-year run and leaving thousands of passengers stranded and about 17,000 employees affected, NBC News reported. They write:
Going.com spokesperson Katy Nastro said it’s “a sad day for anybody that loves affordable flights,” warning that the loss of Spirit Airlines could drive up fares by 15% or more on the routes that it used to fly.
“Leisure destinations like Orlando, Las Vegas, markets like Fort Lauderdale, those immediately are going to see the biggest impacts,” Nastro told NBC News, noting that those were among Spirit’s busiest hubs.
The collapse comes as airlines broadly raise fees, add surcharges, and cut less profitable routes, reducing seat availability. Competing carriers are offering discounted rebooking fares, while refunds are being processed through cancellations and bankruptcy.
