Overview
- Spirit canceled all flights and customer service with immediate effect and told passengers not to go to airports as it begins an orderly wind-down.
- A last-ditch $500 million lifeline tied to government support fell apart after key creditors resisted and the administration withheld backing.
- Customers who paid by credit or debit card will receive automatic refunds, agency bookings must be handled by the agency, and coupons or loyalty points move into the bankruptcy process.
- Analysts estimate the shutdown removes 21.3 million seats from U.S. schedules, a 4.5% hit to domestic low-cost capacity concentrated at 15 major airports including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Chicago O’Hare, which could lift near-term fares for price-sensitive travelers.
- The Transportation Secretary announced an emergency plan offering priority job interviews for Spirit employees and special fares for stranded travelers.