Spirit Airlines says it’s going out of business ending operations immediately

Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations After 34 Years

Spirit Airlines, known for its yellow budget airline services, shut down its operations permanently early Saturday morning. The airline, with over 17,000 employees, announced that it was unable to secure funding from the government, leading to its closure.

Company officials released a statement on the website confirming the closure, stating, “It is with great disappointment that on May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.”

The airline’s website was updated to SpiritRestructuring.com, advising ticketed passengers to stay home as all flights have been canceled. Approximately 277 flights scheduled for Saturday were canceled, with the majority in the Southeast region.

Spirit Airlines, known for its bright yellow planes and low-cost seating, had struggled financially, especially during the pandemic. The company had filed for bankruptcy twice in less than a year and was unable to recover from the impact of the ongoing Iran war and rising fuel costs.

As a result of the closure, tens of thousands of employees are now without jobs. Passengers who had tickets for canceled flights will receive automatic refunds, while Southwest Airlines has offered special access fares to assist affected travelers.

The abrupt shutdown of operations has left many passengers and employees uncertain about the future of air travel and the fate of Spirit Airlines’ properties and jets.