Spirit Airlines prepares to shut down without a government bailout
Key takeaways
- Spirit Airlines, the Florida-based carrier that helped popularize low-cost airfare in the U.S., could shut down operations if a deal isn’t reached soon with the Trump administration.
- Several media outlets including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Spirit is preparing to shutter, citing people familiar with the situation.
- The airline has been in talks with the U.S. government to secure a $500-million cash infusion in exchange for a majority stake in the company.
A line of Spirit Airlines jets sit on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport. (Chris O’Meara / Associated Press) By Caroline Petrow-Cohen Staff Writer Follow May 1, 2026 1:47 PM PT 2 3 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Spirit Airlines, the Florida-based carrier that helped popularize low-cost airfare in the U.S., could shut down operations if a deal isn’t reached soon with the Trump administration.
Several media outlets including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Spirit is preparing to shutter, citing people familiar with the situation.