Republicans and Democrats traded blame on Saturday after Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations, leaving passengers stranded and employees jobless. The low-cost carrier announced an immediate wind-down after 34 years, with the last flight landing in Dallas, Texas, after midnight.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned passengers not to show up at airports, as Spirit’s check-in desks sat empty across the country. He outlined measures for customers to obtain refunds or discounted flights on other airlines, but stressed the company had been in dire financial straits long before the recent fuel price surge.
Republican lawmakers blamed the Biden administration for blocking a $3.8bn merger with JetBlue in 2024, citing antitrust concerns. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie said the block, combined with high fuel prices, led to Spirit’s demise. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren countered that spiking fuel prices from “Trump’s war” in Iran were the final blow, and noted the merger was blocked by a Reagan-appointed judge.
Duffy scorned Democrats who had hailed the merger block as a victory for travellers, posting on X: “Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg bragged about blocking the JetBlue–Spirit merger … The very deal that could have saved Spirit Airlines. The result: Less competition, customers scrambling, employees losing jobs.”
Spirit CEO Dave Davis told the Wall Street Journal the airline had not intentionally sold tickets knowing it would not operate, but rescue talks with creditors including Citadel LLC and Ares Management failed. Passengers like Angela Moreno, booked for a family wedding, faced $600 tickets on other airlines and said many would be unable to attend.
