After 34 years in Operation Spirit Airlines Shutdown

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy spoke at Newark Liberty International Airport following Spirit Airlines’ decision to cease operations.

Spirit Airlines has ceased operations effective immediately as of May 2, 2026, launching an orderly wind-down after failing to secure a $500 million bailout. All flights are cancelled, and customer service is no longer available. Passengers are advised to seek refunds via their credit card issuer or through a claims process, with 17,000 jobs impacted

Spirit stated that customers will receive refunds for tickets already purchased. If the tickets were bought directly from Spirit Airlines, refunds will be automatically credited to the original payment method. For purchases made through a travel agent or third-party booking site, customers need to contact that agent or site directly.

The Department of Transportation reports that several airlines are offering limited-time caps on ticket prices and assistance to Spirit customers. Customers should keep receipts for Spirit purchases:

JetBlue: Valid for 72 hours

Southwest: Valid for 72 hours, but only in person at an airport ticket counter

Delta: Valid for 5 days

United: Valid online for 2 weeks