NEW YORK (PIX11) – Spirit Airlines has thousands of employees throughout the United States, with hundreds estimated to be employed in New York City.

Reports of a potential shutdown of the Florida-based airline suggest that thousands of employees may be affected by layoffs.

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However, as of Friday, President Donald Trump said a deal to rescue the financially strapped airline was under review. The president did not provide details but said an announcement could come later Friday or Saturday.

“We’re looking at it. If we could do it, we’ll do it. But only if it’s a good deal,” he said, speaking to reporters before departing the White House for Florida.

The possibility of a bailout first surfaced publicly last week, when Trump floated the idea of the government offering Spirit a financial lifeline to keep the airline from going out of business. Separately, a lawyer for the airline told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court that Spirit was in advanced talks with the government about financing that could allow it to exit Chapter 11 protection.

PIX11 News reached out to inquire about plans for potential buyouts, layoffs, and other details if the company were to go under.

A company spokesperson declined to comment, writing, “Spirit is operating as usual.”

Richie Johnsen, Air Transport General Vice President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), North America’s largest airline union, issued the following statement on Wednesday regarding potential federal relief for Spirit Airlines.

“The IAM strongly supports federal relief for Spirit Airlines, but it must come with clear, enforceable protections for workers. That means no furloughs, no layoffs, and no shifting the burden onto the very people who keep this airline running.”

As of publication, no announcement of federal relief has been agreed upon.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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