Spirit Airlines, the U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier known for charging extra for nearly everything, abruptly announced it was shutting down on May 2 (local time), drawing mixed reactions from consumers. Some supporters have even launched a website to raise money in a public buyout effort.
According to USA Today and other outlets, Spirit said it would end operations at 3 a.m. on May 2 and close. The airline had planned to operate more than 4,000 domestic flights through May 15, but all future flights were canceled. Most tickets were refunded the day the shutdown was announced, the newspaper reported. Passengers who bought tickets using vouchers or miles, however, must wait while bankruptcy proceedings continue.
Spirit’s collapse had been widely anticipated in the industry. The airline sought bankruptcy protection twice, in 2024 and last year. Reuters reported that the Donald Trump administration recently held talks to provide Spirit with $500 million (about 739 billion won) in exchange for 90% of its shares, but the effort failed. A creditor-side official told Reuters, “The Trump administration tried hard to save Spirit, but you can’t bring a dead body back to life.”
Spirit was founded in 1983 as Charter One Airlines, operating charter flights, and renamed itself Spirit in 1992 after introducing jet aircraft. Beginning in 2007, it shifted to an ultra-low-cost strategy, charging separately for services such as seat selection, baggage, onboard drinks and counter service.
That model worked for years. Spirit posted annual profits through 2020, even as the travel industry was hit by COVID-19, and other budget carriers — including Frontier, Sun Country, Avelo and Allegiant — adopted similar approaches. Major U.S. airlines such as Delta and American have also introduced comparable tactics, including basic economy fares and fees for seat selection.
After the pandemic, Spirit’s losses mounted. The airline ultimately said it could not withstand a surge in fuel prices tied to the Iran war. Spirit had built its recovery plan on jet fuel forecasts of about $2.24 a gallon this year and $2.14 next year, but prices jumped to $4.24 a gallon after the war began.
Consumers have long criticized Spirit for frequent schedule changes and cancellations with little compensation, and for charging for nearly all add-ons. Online, bags are even marketed to fit Spirit’s allowed “personal item” size. One consumer told Fox News that while the ticket itself cost $75 (about 110,000 won), adding baggage and a seat brought the total to $300 (about 440,000 won). “Spirit is good only when you’re traveling with just a backpack and no luggage,” the consumer said. Korean online travel communities have echoed the complaints, with posts saying the airline “takes even your spirit” through fees and that “everything is paid except the staff’s smile.”
The shutdown has also raised concerns about mass job losses and consumer harm. The U.S. airline industry is running hiring programs for Spirit employees and offering discounted tickets to customers holding canceled Spirit bookings. In Washington, blame has become a political issue. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the Biden administration, saying then-Secretary Pete Buttigieg blocked a Spirit-JetBlue merger and contributed to the crisis. Buttigieg responded that Spirit went bankrupt after jet fuel prices doubled during Trump’s term because of the Iran war.
A grassroots effort to buy the airline has also emerged. A site called “Spirit 2.0,” set up by internet users, is raising funds with a minimum contribution of $45 (about 66,000 won). The New York Post reported that 120,000 people have visited the site so far and that $88 million (about 130 billion won) has been pledged.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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