Spirit Airlines Ends Operations After 34 Years

Spirit Airlines stopped flying on May 3 after operating for 34 years. A lawyer for the airline told a bankruptcy judge the carrier apologized to passengers who relied on its low fares.

“We apologize most specifically for those Americans who may now be priced entirely out,” Spirit lawyer Marshall Huebner said in court. He thanked passengers who used the airline because they could not otherwise afford air travel. Rising jet fuel costs linked to the Iran war have increased airfares across the industry.

Two remaining U.S. budget carriers completed a merger, and the Association of Value Airlines asked the Trump administration for $2.5 billion in aid.

America opposed the aid request.

The group said government support would give budget carriers an unfair advantage over airlines that had already adjusted to higher costs. Transportation officials rejected the request the day Spirit stopped flying. Alaska Airlines completed its purchase of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024, and Allegiant finalized its acquisition of Sun Country last week.

Shye Gilad, a former airline captain who teaches at Georgetown University, said dynamic pricing has reduced the price advantage once held by low-cost carriers. Vikrant Vaze, an aviation systems expert at Dartmouth College, said budget airlines differ widely in their exposure to fuel costs and market changes.