1a·1o·spread 0.00·8 hr agoaviation·via ABC News8 hr agoSome carriers reduced fares on high volume routes where Spirit used to operate.May 2, 2026, 11:02 AMThe Department of Transportation said on Saturday the majority of airlines will be capping tickets prices for Spirit Airlines travelers who need to rebook their canceled flights.Some carriers have even reduced fares on high volume routes where Spirit used to operate.Spirit began winding down operations early Saturday morning after talks between the airline and the federal government over a $500 million rescue deal stalled.Spirit said that travelers who booked their tickets with a credit or debit card will be automatically refunded.United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest said they are capping ticket prices specifically for Spirit customers who need to rebook cancelled flights.In this Oct. 24, 2025, file photo, an American Airlines airplane arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.NurPhoto via Getty Images, FILETo access these special prices, individuals will need to provide at least a Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment, the airlines said.These fares will only be available for a short period:JetBlue: Available for 72 hoursSouthwest: Available for 72 hours; only in person at an airport ticket counterDelta: Available for five daysUnited: Available for two weeks online American Airlines
1a·1o·spread 0.00·8 hr agoaviation·via ABC News8 hr agoSpirit Airlines says that it has "started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately" while the outcome of talks between the airline and the federal government over a $500 million rescue deal for the remains unclear.Spirit Airlines final flight was flight 1833 which travelled from Detroit to Dallas and landed early Saturday morning just after midnight as the airline says it flew more than 50,000 passengers over the past day and is working to get more than 1,300 crew safely home to their bases.A spokesperson for Spirit also said that the majority of the airline's employees found out about the airline's closure primarily through media reports that they were about to lose their jobs.The airline was scheduled to operate 277 flights Saturday, according to data from Airline Data Inc, which have now all been cancelled."To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available," Spirit said in a statement on its website. "We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come."The Wall Street Journal first reported that Spirit was preparing to shut down
1a·1o·spread 0.00·9 hr agoaviation·via The Guardian9 hr agoThe US secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, has announced a series of measures to help Spirit Airlines passengers following the low-cost airline’s collapse early on Saturday after running out of cash and the failure of rescue talks with the Trump administration.Duffy said that larger US airlines, including United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, had agreed to cap ticket prices specifically for Spirit customers who need to rebook canceled flights, subject to a Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment.American Airlines and Delta Air Lines would also offer reduced fares on high-volume Spirit routes, and ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant has committed to freezing fares across routes that overlap with the failed carrier. A third airline, Frontier, would offer a 50% base-fare reduction to affected travelers, it was announced.Duffy also said in a statement on X that most major US carriers will extend travel pass benefits and spare seats to Spirit pilots, flight attendants and other employees who need to return home after being stranded by the company’s collapse.Spirit once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes and employed about 17,000 people, but early on Saturday it announced that after 34 years in business it had “with great disappointment …
1a·1o·spread 0.00·1 hr agoaviation·via CBS News1 hr agoDiscount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday. It had been struggling with skyrocketing fuel costs and mountains of debt. A proposed government bailout plan unraveled, leaving thousands of passengers, employees and investors in limbo. Ali Bauman reports from Newark's Liberty International Airport.
1a·1o·spread 0.00·2 hr agoaviation·via PBS NewsHour2 hr agoSEATTLE (AP) — The collapse of the U.S.-based Spirit Airlines may mark the end of an era for travelers with a certain financial sensibility. But if you've been snagged in their now-defunct flight schedule, here are some things to know on how to get home, and get whole. READ MORE: Spirit Airlines goes out of business after 34 years, ceases operations immediately "Rescue fares," reduced prices for new flights Many airlines that used to compete with Spirit are now parachuting in with deals to save their travelers. Airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines are capping or reducing ticket prices for people to book new flights. There is a limited window for this deal, which prioritizes now-stranded travelers who need to find a new way to their next destination. For example, Southwest's offer is only available in person at an airport ticket counter through Wednesday, May 6, according to industry trade group, Airlines for America and the U.S. Department of Transportation. United, meanwhile, is allowing such bookings for up to two weeks, which can be accessed online. READ MORE: Trump says a 'final proposal' to rescue Spirit Airlines is under consideration
1a·1o·spread 0.00·9 hr agoaviation·via Newsweek9 hr agoSpirit Airlines has entered bankruptcy, meaning thousands of flights have been canceled and tens of thousands of passengers no longer have their scheduled travel plans. But what rights do they have?The budget carrier, which had been operating since 1992, confirmed it has begun an immediate and “orderly wind-down of operations,” canceling all flights and advising customers not to head to the airport, meaning travelers from today with booked services will need to make alternative arrangements.What Are Your Rights?Under U.S. rules, passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled and they choose not to travel. The Department of Transportation states that this right applies regardless of the reason for the cancelation.Airlines must also inform passengers of both the cancelation and their eligibility for a refund. In this case, Spirit has said it will automatically process refunds for tickets purchased directly using a credit or debit card.The airline said on a website dedicated to the shutdown: “While we are not able to help rebook your flight on another airline, we will automatically process refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card to the original form of payment.”Passengers who booked through third parties are being
1a·1o·spread 0.00·8 hr agoaviation·via CBS News8 hr agoBy Kerry Breen News Editor Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio May 2, 2026 / 11:00 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Air traffic control audio records showed the exchanges between controllers and the pilots of some of Spirit Airlines' final flights overnight Saturday, shortly after the airline announced it was ceasing operations after a government bailout failed to materialize. Around midnight, an American Airlines employee at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport can be heard offering well wishes to Spirit employees on the airline's second-to-last flight at that airport."Sorry to hear what happened," the American Airlines employee says in the audio, which was obtained by LiveATC.com. About 10 minutes later, the pilot of Spirit's final flight at the airport asked an air traffic controller if any more Spirit flights are set to land. "I don't see anything," the controller replies. "You might be the last one." "This is it tonight," the pilot says. A recording from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
2a·2o·spread 0.10·7 hr agoaviation·via Al Jazeera7 hr agoThe collapse of the US-based budget carrier due to a doubling in jet fuel prices will cost thousands of jobs.Low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines has said that all of its flights have been cancelled as it started an “orderly wind-down of operations,” after a potential White House bailout fell through.“Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc., parent company of Spirit Airlines … today regretfully announced that the Company has started an orderly wind-down of operations, effective immediately. All Spirit flights have been cancelled, and Spirit Guests should not go to the airport,” the airline said in a statement in the early hours of Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Lufthansa cuts 20,000 flights as Iran war causes jet fuel shortagelist 2 of 4EU eyes options as Iran conflict threatens jet fuel shortageslist 3 of 4Commercial flights from Tehran’s main airport resume amid cautious normalcylist 4 of 4Jet fuel shortage: Why Iran war could ground flights in Europeend of listSpirit had 4,119 domestic flights scheduled between May 1 and May 15, offering 809,638 seats, according to the latest data from Cirium.The collapse of the carrier due to a doubling in jet fuel prices during the two-month-old Iran war will cost thousands of
1a·1o·spread 0.00·8 hr agoaviation·via Scientific American8 hr agoThis next-generation plane is made to go faster than sound without producing a full sonic boomBy Jackie Flynn Mogensen edited by Claire CameronJoin Our Community of Science Lovers!NASA wants to make supersonic travel quieter. On Thursday the agency released new footage of its X-59 jet, a still-in-development plane that is designed to break the sound barrier over land—but with a sonic “thud” rather than a boom.Faster air travel speeds mean shorter flights. But when an aircraft travels more rapidly than the speed of sound, it creates shock waves, generating a sonic boom. Those sonic booms can be a nuisance for people living nearby and can even cause damage to homes and startle animals.The X-59 jet is NASA’s answer to that problem. Featuring a needlelike tip, it’s designed to travel at more than 1,000 miles per hour—about twice as fast as a commercial jet—while limiting the noise of the boom. NASA expects its sonic “thump” to be as loud as “distant thunder” or the thud of a car door closing down the block.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories
1a·1o·spread 0.00·2 hr agoaviation·via Newsweek2 hr agoJetBlue Airways announced 11 new routes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida just hours after Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down on Saturday, ending 34 years of operations and leaving roughly 17,000 employees out of work. The new JetBlue routes—set to begin July 9—directly fill markets Spirit Airlines served, including six destinations JetBlue had not flown to before. The expansion will give JetBlue its largest-ever operation at Fort Lauderdale, with nearly 130 daily departures projected this summer, 75 percent more than last year.Spirit Airlines' collapse removes nearly 2 percent of all U.S. domestic airline seats overnight, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, with the steepest impact in Las Vegas as well as Fort Lauderdale and Orlando—markets where Spirit Airlines was a major presence.Why It MattersDue to the shutdown, budget-conscious and leisure travelers are expected to feel the absence of Spirit Airlines most acutely. JetBlue's rapid expansion is the most aggressive move yet by any U.S. airline to fill the gap, but with one major budget carrier gone, fares on Spirit's former routes are likely to rise without continued competition.Shares of JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines jumped sharply on Friday morning after a Wall Street Journal report said Spirit Airlines was
1a·1o·spread 0.00·3 hr agoaviation·via Global News3 hr agoCanadians 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
1a·1o·spread 0.00·2 hr agoaviation·via CNBC2 hr agoSpirit Airlines kiosks at New York's LaGuardia Airport on May 2, hours after the carrier shut down.Leslie Josephs/CNBCBALTIMORE/NEW YORK — Spirit Airlines was hours away from its final flights Friday afternoon. Jeremiah Burton was hours away from his first."It's my first time flying," Burton, a 45-year-old air conditioning and heating technician, told CNBC at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Friday, shortly before he was scheduled to depart for New Orleans to visit his daughter and her newborn twins."To tell you the truth, I just went online and Googled the cheapest airline ticket," he said, adding that he paid about $500 for the trip late last month. He was scheduled to return on May 6.While Burton waited for his flight, Spirit was making final preparations to shut down overnight, ending a three-decade run that brought discount air travel to millions across the United States and as far away as Peru. Spirit canceled international flights on Thursday, to start, so travelers, planes, and flight crews wouldn't be stranded. The airline said it flew more than 50,000 people the day leading up to its collapse.Spirit bondholders rejected an 11th-hour bailout proposal from the Trump administration that could have included up to $500
