MIRAMAR, Fla. — Leisure travelers who rely on Spirit Airlines’ ultra-low fares will soon find fewer yellow-tailed jets on airport departure boards. The Miramar-based carrier has announced that it will permanently exit 11 U.S. markets this fall and furlough 1,800 employees as part of a sweeping restructuring tied to its second trip through bankruptcy court in as many years.
Eleven nonstop routes come to an end
Spirit says its final flights to the following airports will operate on Oct. 2:
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International (BHM)
- Boise Airport (BOI)
- Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA)
- Columbia Metropolitan (CAE)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Sacramento International (SMF)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- San José Mineta International (SJC)
For travelers based in those cities, the cutbacks erase some of the country’s cheapest nonstop options to vacation hotspots in Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America. Spirit has not announced replacement service or codeshare alternatives for any of the affected airports.
Layoffs follow shrinking fleet and flight schedule
The route rationalization is only one piece of Spirit’s cost-saving push. In a prepared statement to CBS News, the company said it plans to furlough approximately 1,800 flight attendants on Dec. 1, 2025, “to align staffing with our fleet size and expected flight volume.” An earlier internal memo, written in November by Chief Executive Officer Dave Davis and obtained by CBS News, warned employees that “these evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline.” — as Davis wrote in the memo. While the airline’s press materials list 5,200 flight attendants companywide, only the 1,800 furlough figure has been tied to the current restructuring. The carrier has not detailed additional job categories that could be affected, though analysts note that pilots, ground handlers and customer-service contractors may also face reductions as aircraft are parked.
Why Spirit says the cuts are necessary
Industry watchers point to several converging challenges:
- Second bankruptcy filing. Spirit sought court protection earlier this year, citing high fuel costs and slower-than-expected post-pandemic demand recovery.
- Blocked merger with JetBlue. A federal judge halted the proposed tie-up in January, eliminating the infusion of JetBlue cash and operational synergies Spirit had been counting on.
- Engine-inspection crisis. Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines used on some of Spirit’s Airbus jets require accelerated shop visits, forcing the airline to ground dozens of planes and slash capacity.
Taken together, those headwinds leave Spirit with fewer aircraft to fly, less access to capital and rising maintenance bills—forces that ultimately dictated the suspension of marginally profitable routes and the need to trim payroll.
Impact on fares and competition
Spirit’s exit from markets such as Portland and San Diego removes a low-cost competitor that traditionally pressured legacy carriers to match or at least moderate fare hikes. Data firm Cirium shows Spirit held between 3 percent and 7 percent seat share in most of the affected airports—small but often pivotal in setting the lowest advertised price. Travel search engine Hopper estimates that nonstop fares on routes Spirit is abandoning could rise by 12 percent to 18 percent in the first six months after the carrier’s departure, depending on whether Southwest or Frontier backfill some of the lost capacity.
Alternatives for budget flyers
- Check one-stop itineraries. Connecting via Las Vegas, Dallas–Fort Worth or Fort Lauderdale may still cost less than a nonstop ticket on a legacy airline.
- Watch for flash sales. Frontier, in particular, tends to launch 24-hour promos when a competitor exits a market.
- Leverage credit-card flexibility. Full-service carriers often release basic-economy award seats that rival Spirit’s cash fares when taxes are included.
How to handle existing reservations
Spirit’s customer-relations team is contacting affected passengers in departure-date order. Travelers booked on flights after Oct. 2 may choose:
• A full refund to the original form of payment
• A rebooking on the nearest available Spirit flight (if applicable)
• A voucher valid for 12 months
The airline says no change or cancellation fees apply in this instance. If you purchased nonrefundable hotels or tours, contact providers immediately; many will waive penalties with proof of airline cancellation.
Spirit’s silver-lining spin
Despite the turmoil, Spirit continues to tout recent accolades, noting on its corporate site that it was named Best Airline Overall, Safest Airline and Most Affordable Airline for 2025 by WalletHub, earned a Four Star Low Cost Carrier rating from the Airline Passenger Experience Association and received the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence for the seventh consecutive year. Those honors do little to soothe travelers losing nonstop service, but they underscore the brand equity Spirit hopes to preserve as it trims operations.
Tips for Travelers
- Book sooner rather than later. Once Spirit’s capacity disappears, remaining seats on other carriers are likely to sell out quickly for peak periods such as Thanksgiving and winter holidays.
- Monitor schedule changes. If you stay on Spirit through the transition, double-check departure times weekly; further tweaks are possible as the airline juggles aircraft availability.
- Mind the fine print. Spirit’s à-la-carte fees (for carry-ons, checked bags, seat assignments and printing boarding passes) remain in place. Budget accordingly when comparing “all-in” prices.
- Consider travel insurance. Policies that cover insolvency can protect prepaid expenses should the restructuring take an unexpected turn.
- Stay flexible. The situation is fluid, so aligning trip dates with airlines that offer no-fee changes gives you extra wiggle room.
FAQ
Will Spirit return to my city once it exits?
Not immediately. Court filings indicate the carrier plans to focus on core leisure routes and rebuild profitability before revisiting smaller markets.
Can I switch to another airline without paying extra?
Spirit will only refund or rebook on its own flights. If you choose another carrier, you must purchase a new ticket, though the refund can offset the cost.
Is my Free Spirit loyalty balance safe?
Yes, for now. The loyalty program operates as a separate legal entity, and no changes have been announced.
What happens if the restructuring fails?
A conversion to Chapter 7 liquidation would ground the airline and trigger refund obligations. Monitor DOT advisories for traveler protections if the outlook worsens.
Bottom line
Spirit’s decision to shutter 11 routes and furlough 1,800 employees underscores the serious financial pressure buffeting smaller U.S. airlines. While the carrier works through bankruptcy, travelers in Albuquerque, Portland, San Diego and eight other cities need new game plans for low-cost flights, and all flyers should brace for upward fare pressure where Spirit once filled the ultra-budget niche.
