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Spirit Airlines Ceases Flights and Begins Orderly Wind-Down

The shutdown underscores how soaring jet-fuel prices exposed the limits of the ultra-low-cost model.

Overview

  • The carrier, which halted flights Friday night, canceled all upcoming trips and by Sunday many customers could not reach support.
  • Leaders had readied an internal “Plan Charlie” and, after board approval Friday evening following a failed rescue attempt, moved to park aircraft and house crews before announcing the shutdown.
  • U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said several airlines will cap fares to help stranded Spirit customers complete their journeys.
  • A small wind-down team is preparing aircraft, parts and property for sale, issuing automatic refunds for credit-card bookings and arranging travel home for more than 1,000 crew members.
  • Influencer Hunter Peterson launched a viral bid to buy the airline through letsbuyspiritair.com, proposing $45 memberships in a crowdfunding effort whose viability remains unproven.