Bankrupt Spirit Airlines cancels ALL flights immediately and fails to help stranded passengers as it winds down operations after 33 years

Spirit, known as America’s most dysfunctional airline, is staying true to form by ceasing operations after 33 years, immediately canceling ALL flights and not offering passengers alternative travel.

Spirit announced just before 3am on Saturday that the airline would begin ‘ceasing its global operations effective immediately’.

In addition to canceling all flights, the airline said customer service will no longer be available, passengers will not be able to rebook with another airline and refunds will be processed automatically.

“We are proud of the impact our ultra-low-cost model has had on the industry over the past 33 years and hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,” the airline said.

Many airlines have announced that they will offer assistance to passengers scheduled to fly with Spirit.

Frontier said in a statement Friday that it was preparing to assist affected travelers ‘with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low fare options.’

JetBlue, which wanted to buy Spirit in 2024 but was blocked by a court order, also announced Friday that it would assist passengers affected by the news.

Spirit’s update not only caused headaches for customers looking for other accommodations, but also put thousands of people out of work.

Passengers scheduled to fly with Spirit had to scramble to find other accommodations. Travelers are seen above at Spirit check-in at Orlando International Airport

Spirit announced that all flights were canceled and customer service was closed. An employee is seen on base issuing the notice at Orlando International Airport

About an hour before the official announcement, the Association of Flight Attendants notified its members that the airline would cease operations at 3 a.m. EST. CNN reported.

Spirit’s staff, including flight attendants and pilots who need a way home, are set to receive travel pass benefits and spare jump seats from most major U.S. carriers, according to the Department of Transportation.

American Airlines and United are also creating microsites for Spirit employees looking for new positions.

AFA has created a resource page for Spirit flight attendants who are currently unemployed.

But because stranded passengers may have to book reservations with higher-budget airlines, the DOT said ticket prices will be capped for Spirit customers on United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest flights.

Fees will be valid for a limited time only. JetBlue and Southwest are offering discounted costs for the next 72 hours.

Customers who want to book with Southwest will need to purchase their new tickets in person at the airport.

While Delta offers limited ticket prices for the next five days, passengers will be able to purchase seats on United for the next two weeks.

Spirit posted a statement online early Saturday announcing the end of global operations.

Stranded passengers affected by the news will automatically be refunded their flight fares. The image above is an operational update released at Orlando International Airport.

Spirit’s customer service team was also disbanded. The image above shows the empty baggage drop counter at Orlando International Airport.

Spirit’s greatest hits

Spirit broke the mold in air travel by emerging as the first budget airline more than three decades ago.

Its existence has paved the way for people who wouldn’t normally be able to afford to travel to book trips.

However, its low-cost prices, infamous yellow branding, and strange behavior that frequently occurs on Spirit flights have become synonymous with the brand.

In 2020, Spirit passengers made headlines when three Philadelphia women were caught on camera throwing phones, shoes, water bottles and even fast food at airline staff.

In March 2025, a video of a female passenger named Rachel being dragged from the airline’s desk after being removed from the flight before boarding went viral.

During the incident, which occurred on August 30, 2023, he repeatedly shouted “Take me to jail!” Authorities quickly caught Rachel, who screamed. Take me to jail before I hit the ground! Officers then tackled him and handcuffed him as he continued to scream.

Two women, Teresa and Tara, told the Daily Mail in 2024 that a male flight attendant on Spirit Airlines told them to ‘cover up’.

That same year, another woman went viral for recording a video showing an employee applying tape to the wing of a plane before takeoff.

In 2024, two women made headlines after claiming they were kicked off a Spirit flight by a male flight attendant for wearing crop tops.

Teresa and Tara told the Daily Mail at the time that they were told to ‘cover up’ after taking off their jumpers on the plane.

The airline also faced backlash last year for introducing a dress code banning trashy looks.

The rule stated that if a guest was ‘barefoot or inadequately dressed’ they ‘will not be allowed to board’.

Examples of inappropriate travel attire include: see-through clothing, exposing breasts, buttocks or other private parts; obscene, suggestive or offensive clothing and tattoos.

The regulation came after several incidents where passengers wore inappropriate clothing.

Another example of a strange interaction on a Spirit flight occurred in July, when a 16-year-old boy made a “bomb” joke referencing his “manhood” that went viral, prompting a police response on the flight.

Desperate attempts to save the soul

Spirit’s final flight comes after a long battle to save the budget airline. The company has struggled to turn a profit since the outbreak when travel restrictions were put in place.

Even after restrictions were lifted, travel took a backseat as many Americans faced financial difficulties amid a collapsing economy.

Major airlines have managed to rebound from the pandemic by reducing flights and increasing costs, but Spirit’s reputation for low-budget travel has prevented it from doing the same.

The company started losing money, losing more than $2.5 billion from 2020 to 2024. They reported negative free cash flow of $1 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2025.

JetBlue and Spirit reached a $3.8 billion merger deal in 2024, but Justice Department guidelines put an end to the proposal.

The Justice Department sued to stop the merger, arguing that it would reduce competition and increase wages. Spirit later filed for bankruptcy again in August 2025.

Spirit filed for bankruptcy twice before ceasing all operations on Saturday. Merger with JetBlue also fails in 2024 to save airline

Customers had to contact other airlines to book flights. The ticket booth at Detroit Metro Airport is seen above following the announcement

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy attributed Sirit’s eventual death to the Department of Justice’s decision under the Biden administration, writing in a statement: ‘Another mess the traveling public is bound to inherit thanks to the radical policies of Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg.

‘By blocking the JetBlue/Spirit merger in 2024, they have turned their backs on American consumers and our great aviation workforce,’ he continued.

‘Regardless of how we got here, the Trump Administration is committed to taking care of you and your family as we fly. ‘Within hours, we mobilized our airline partners to ensure passengers weren’t stranded, communities maintained route access, fares didn’t skyrocket, and Spirit’s workforce was connected to new job opportunities.’

The Trump administration had previously been in talks to save the airline in bankruptcy court.

The president said Friday he was ‘looking at’ a deal and a final offer had been made.

But a source familiar with the negotiations said: CNN A major group of creditors rejected the plan because it would have given the government majority control of Spirit’s shares.

AFA had launched a campaign to save the airline. The union shared the stories of several flight attendants on Friday to defend the agreement.

Darlene, who has been a flight attendant for Spirit for four years, said being a flight attendant allows her to support her household and care for her 81-year-old mother.

‘I try to make a real impact on every flight; “Whether that’s helping a nervous passenger feel safe, creating a moment of joy for someone in need, or simply supporting my crew on long, tough days,” he said.

‘Spirit Airlines offers people like me opportunities to build a life, support their families, and serve communities that rely on affordable travel.’