ORLANDO, Fla. — Spirit Airlines, an impish upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, announced Saturday that it has gone out of business after 34 years.
The ultra-low cost airline that once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes and employed about 17,000 people said it had “started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.”
The airline said on its website that all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.
Hundreds of passengers are being impacted in Tampa and Orlando, which had eight outgoing Spirit flights scheduled Saturday and two incoming. Six departures were canceled Satrday in Tampa. Three arrivals also have been canceled.
The company advised customers that they could expect refunds but there would be no help in booking travel on other airlines.
The shutdown was expected after Friday came and went without a needed government bailout for the cash-strapped business.
Spirit has struggled financially since the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed down by rising operating costs and growing debt. By the time it filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024, Spirit had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020.
The budget carrier sought bankruptcy protection again in August 2025, when it reported having $8.1 billion in debts and $8.6 billion in assets, according to court filings.
Budget-conscious and leisure travelers would likely feel Spirit’s absence the most, especially in places where the airline has a big footprint such as Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.