Why the end of Spirit Airlines could mean higher fares for everyone

The rise and fall of Spirit Airlines

For 34 years, Spirit Airlines made waves with its rock-bottom fares, racy advertising, and bright yellow planes. At its peak, it was the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in the US, selling flights to Florida for $39. But in May 2026, Spirit shut down completely. It canceled 9,000 flights and left staff with little information. So what happened to the low-cost behemoth? And what does its sudden closure mean for cheap airfare in America?Read the ori…

Why the end of Spirit Airlines could mean higher fares for everyone

Spirit Airlines was often the punchline of jokes, but its low fares helped keep prices in check.

Spirit Airlines bankruptcy could boost other airlines, analysts say

Amid the current Middle East jet-fuel crisis, commercial carriers in the United States may have experienced a shudder of schadenfreude as their low-cost rival Spirit Airlines finally went bust, leaving behind, according to analysts, a gap in the market, a fleet of bargain second-hand aircraft, and room for others to push up their own fares. The demise of Spirit “will make it a lot easier for carriers that remain to raise prices to cover the high…