Spirit Airlines Discontinues Service in 12 Cities Amid Financial Uncertainty
Spirit Airlines has announced it will cease flight operations in a dozen cities just days after declaring its second bankruptcy filing this year. The Florida-based low-cost airline confirmed its withdrawal from these markets, effective October 2, in a statement released to CBS News on Thursday.
Affected Cities
The airline will discontinue service in the following cities:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Boise, Idaho
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Oakland, California
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Portland, Oregon
- Sacramento, California
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- San Diego, California
- San Jose, California
Additionally, the airline has cancelled plans to launch new service to Macon, Georgia, which was scheduled for October 16.
A spokesperson for Spirit Airlines expressed regret for the inconvenience these changes might cause to customers and stated that they would reach out to those with affected reservations to provide information regarding refunds and options.
Ongoing Financial Challenges
This announcement comes at a critical point for Spirit Airlines, which initially sought bankruptcy protection in November 2024 as a response to rising operational costs and increasing debt burdens. Following a brief emergence from Chapter 11 restructuring, the airline found itself filing for bankruptcy once again in August. During this restructuring phase, Spirit emphasized its intent to maintain normal business operations, allowing passengers to continue book flights.
In its quarterly earnings report released in August, the airline indicated “substantial doubt” regarding its future viability, citing poor demand in the domestic leisure travel sector and challenging market conditions as contributing factors.
Competitors Respond Promptly
In light of Spirit Airlines’ route reductions, competing airlines have swiftly introduced new domestic and international flight options to capture the market share vacated by Spirit. United Airlines, the world’s largest airline, announced plans to increase service to 15 cities, aiming to begin these flights on January 6. Destinations impacted will include airports in:
| City | New Service Date |
|---|---|
| Houston | January 6 |
| Chicago | January 6 |
| Los Angeles | January 6 |
| Fort Lauderdale | January 6 |
Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning, stated, “If Spirit suddenly goes out of business, it will be incredibly disruptive. So, we’re adding these flights to provide options for their customers.”
In response to its competitor’s maneuvers, a Spirit spokesperson articulated, “While we appreciate the attention from airline executives regarding our situation, we remain focused on competing and delivering a quality operation.” They reassured customers of their commitment to offering low ticket prices for the foreseeable future.
Other Competitors Join the Fray
Frontier Airlines, another budget carrier based in Denver, has also launched its own response by introducing 20 new routes from various cities including Detroit, Houston, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, and Dallas, with flight prices ranging from $29 to $89.
