Spirit Airlines to Cut Flights to 12 Cities

Spirit Airlines is set to cease operations in 12 cities starting October 2, facing challenges as the budget airline navigates its second bankruptcy this year. This comes as a report from CBS News outlined the airline’s struggles.

Confirming the decision on Thursday, Spirit announced that it would discontinue flights to Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boise, Chattanooga, Oakland, Columbia, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose, and Macon, Georgia. These cuts follow Spirit’s recent bankruptcy filing in August, shortly after its plans for reorganization were revealed for November 11, 2024.

A spokesperson for Spirit expressed regret, stating, “We apologize for any disruptions this may cause and will reach out to those with affected bookings to discuss their options, including refunds.”

The airline attributed the cuts to a lack of demand for leisure travel and acknowledged having “substantial doubt” regarding the future of its business. In response, United Airlines moved quickly, announcing 15 new routes set to begin on January 6, aiming to attract Spirit’s former customers.

“If Spirit were to suddenly go out of business, it would be quite disruptive. Thus, we’re adding these flights to provide alternatives for our customers,” a United representative stated.

In a rebuttal to United’s new routes, Spirit commented, “We recognize certain airline executives seem overly focused on us, but our priority remains on offering great services.”

Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines has also jumped into the fray, launching 20 new routes from cities like Detroit and Houston, with fares starting as low as $29.

Spirit is currently reassessing its remaining routes while attempting to stabilize its financial situation.