Spirit says most customers refunded, staff returned after shutdown
By ReutersReuters
Passengers walk at Orlando International Airport, as Spirit Airlines announced it was ceasing operations early Saturday morning following an impasse in talks with some creditors on a $500 million government bailout plan, in Orlando, Florida, U.S., May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Miguel Rodriguez
Miguel Rodriguez
Reuters
Passengers walk past the Spirit Airlines check-in area at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport after the airline announced it was ceasing operations early Saturday following an impasse in talks with some creditors over a $500 million government bailout plan, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo Ricardo Arduengo Reuters
A Spirit Airlines aircraft as operations ceased for the company after hitting an impasse in talks with some creditors on a $500 million government bailout plan, at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida, U.S. May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Miguel Rodriguez Miguel Rodriguez Reuters
A Spirit Airlines operational update notice at Orlando International Airport, after Wall Street Journal reported that Spirit Airlines is preparing to cease operations around 3 a.m. on Saturday (0700 GMT), after hitting an impasse in talks with some creditors on a $500 million government bailout plan, in Orlando, Florida, U.S., May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Miguel Rodriguez Miguel Rodriguez Reuters
NEW YORK - Spirit Airlines said on Sunday it had almost completed refunding passengers and returning its crew to their home bases following its decision to cease operations over the weekend.
Spirit abruptly cancelled flights early on Saturday morning, stranding passengers and staff around the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America, after collapsing under financial pressures that included a sharp rise in fuel costs due to the Iran war.
The carrier had more than 4,000 domestic flights scheduled through May 15, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Most customers who booked with credit or debit cards were refunded by Saturday evening, with a small percentage still being processed, the company said.
A final group of about 1,500 crew members was rebased over the weekend.
Other airlines have offered discounted rescue fares for stranded passengers.
(Reporting by Sabrina Valle and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.
This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM.
