Spirit Airlines shuts down, leaving passengers scrambling

May 2, 2026Updated May 3, 2026, 12:39 p.m. ETSpirit Airlines has suspended operations due to long-standing financial issues.Getting refunds for tickets or rebooked on other airlines will be challenging for affected travelers.The airline's frequent flyer program miles will likely lose all their value.NEW YORK – Spirit Airlines announced on May 2 that it was suspending operations after years of financial hardships, compounded by a recent spike in fuel prices.The historic Marine Air Terminal, where Spirit’s operation is housed at LaGuardia International Airport in New York, was largely deserted the morning of May 2. There were few passengers but a plethora of signs explaining that the airline had shuttered its operations. Airport employees directed the one or two passengers who did still show up to head to other terminals where they could rebook themselves on other airlines.All flights have been canceled, and the airline's customer service is no longer available.“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,” Dave Davis, Spirit’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “The sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us