The American low-cost airline Spirit Airlines has canceled all its flights and is ending operations after the company failed to obtain more than 400,000 euros in state aid. The low-cost airline had been in talks with the US government for a bailout, but negotiations broke down. In today’s message on its website, the airline stated that with “great disappointment” the airline “has begun a systematic cessation of operations, effective immediately.”
Before the US-Israeli war in Iran, Spirit had just dug itself out of its second bankruptcy case in recent years, then a spike in jet fuel prices pushed it over the edge again. Fuel costs can account for as much as 40 percent of an airline’s expenses, and these have doubled since the start of the American and Israeli strikes in late February.
All upcoming Spirit flights have been cancelled. In a statement, they said the company will automatically issue refunds for all flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card to the original payment method. Passengers who booked their flights through a travel agency should contact the travel agency directly to request a refund. The airline also announced that it cannot reimburse passengers for other related costs, such as emergency hotel accommodation or alternative flights due to canceled trips. Spirit customer service is no longer available.
