Spirit Airlines says they are going out of business

The ultra-low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines has "started an orderly wind-down of our operations," the company said Saturday.

The move was "effective immediately," with all flights canceled and customer service no longer available. The carrier said customers could expect to be refunded for their tickets.

"We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come," the statement said.

The move could affect some 17.000 jobs.

The US airline said its financial outlook was impacted by rising oil prices and "other pressures" on their pressures on their business. The war in Iran has driven fuel prices to over $4.5 per gallon by the end of April, more than double than what the company had predicted for 2026.

Previously, the company had hoped to secure a government bailout, with President Donald Trump floating the possibility last week. While the details of the proposal were not officially confirmed, US media reported it would involve the government providing the airline with $500 billion (around €427 billion) of taxpayer money in exchange for a stake in the airline.

On Friday, Trump said his administration had offered a "final proposal" to keep Spirit Airlines in business, but no deal was reached.

More to come…