What would a Spirit Airlines shutdown mean for travelers?

By Megan Cerullo Reporter, MoneyWatch Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting. Read Full Bio Kris Van Cleave Kris Van Cleave Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms. Read Full Bio Sarah Ploss Updated on: May 1, 2026 / 7:16 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A Spirit Airlines shutdown would ripple through commercial aviation, likely raising higher fares as the budget carrier exits the market, industry experts said. "Any time you have a reduction in capacity and demand increases, airfares have nowhere to go but up. And that doesn't count the fares that are already rising because of the spike in fuel prices," CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg told CBS News Boston.With a $500 million federal bailout stalled, Spirit planned to shut down as early as Saturday morning without a last-minute intervention and Trump administration officials have been informed, CBS News