Canadians may be impacted as Spirit Airlines shuts down operations ‘effective immediately’

Canadians who cross the border to catch cheap flights have one less option, after the collapse of Spirit Airlines in the United States. The carrier announced Saturday it is shutting down operations effective immediately, cancelling all flights and warning passengers not to head to the airport.The Florida-based budget carrier said the decision follows mounting financial pressure, including a sharp rise in fuel prices that left the company unable to secure additional funding.“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry,” said Dave Davis, Spirit’s president and chief executive officer.Davis explained that in March 2026, the company reached an agreement with bondholders on a restructuring plan that would have allowed them to emerge as a go-forward business. Story continues below advertisement However, “the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the Company,” he added. Get daily National news Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories. That move could have ripple effects for Canadian travellers, particularly in Ontario