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A Spirit Airlines worker waits for passengers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on March 10. Scott Olson/Getty Images Yeneshia Thomas was in her Central Florida home when she got a surprising email at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday: Spirit Airlines was shutting down.

Thomas, 42, first heard the news from her union, but didn't fully believe it. The flight attendant still hoped Spirit Airlines executives would secure a $500 million federal bailout.

"We were all like, 'Nah. Until the company emails us, we don't believe it,'" Thomas said, referring to her and her colleagues.

The bailout negotiations fell apart, and Spirit Airlines announced at 3 a.m. that it would cease operations "effective immediately." It then canceled all its flights.

For Thomas and about 17,000 other employees, it was a gut punch. She had finished her shift hours before the news broke, unaware that it would be her last.

"This broke a lot of people's hearts," she said.

She said some employees were still on the road and had to get back home using other airlines, but that both Spirit and the union have stepped up to help employees navigate the transition.

"It feels like you're in a relationship, and your boyfriend is cheating on you, and everyone is there watching, but you didn't know," Thomas said. "You just heard it on the internet."

Spirit Airlines canceled its flights after ceasing operations on Saturday.  Joe Raedle/Getty Images Thomas said she received another email on Saturday telling her she was no longer allowed to wear her uniform. She said a colleague who hadn't read the email tried to go through security but was told by a TSA agent to "take your uniform off."

"We're all stunned because we're like, 'What happened?' We were doing good. We were putting out the work. Why didn't anyone say anything?" Thomas said.

Sign of the timesAlthough employees hadn't gotten official word in advance that Spirit Airlines would shut down over the weekend, Thomas said she saw the signs. Certain routine flights were canceled with little warning on Friday, for example.

Spirit Airlines had navigated turbulent winds in recent years, including two bankruptcies, a failed merger with JetBlue, employee furloughs, layoffs, and pay cuts. The ongoing US and Israeli war on Iran has also sent jet fuel prices skyrocketing, forcing airlines to implement cost-cutting measures.

Thomas was among the Spirit Airlines employees furloughed in December. She returned to her role in March. She also took a pay cut.

"I had hopes that we were going to make it because they called us back," Thomas said.

Despite how it ended, Thomas said she enjoyed her time at Spirit Airlines.

"At the end of the day, we had a big job," Thomas said. "Getting everyone from point A to point B was our biggest goal, which we did in a safe manner and as comfortably as possible."

Thomas said she found her job fulfilling and enjoyed interacting with people from all walks of life.

"The minute they see the uniform, people come up to me, and they say, 'I love Spirit Airlines. I take it all the time and see my grandchildren,'" Thomas said. "That made me feel so good."

She's also built ties with her coworkers as she traveled across the country.

"It's like a big family because you might end up on an airplane with someone that you've never met in your life, but before you leave, you know their whole life," Thomas said.

She said travelers will likely miss the budget-friendly option Spirit offered, especially amid rising ticket prices.

"They're feeling it now," Thomas said. "Someone just messaged me and she said, 'What am I going to do? Now I have to buy a $700 ticket.'"

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Lauren Edmonds You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Lauren Edmonds is an award-winning reporter on the Business News team. When news isn't breaking, she covers personal finance, kitchen-table economics, and paths to financial freedom, including investing, real estate, side hustles, and small business. She also writes about guaranteed and universal basic income programs in the United States.Lauren has also covered lifestyle and entertainment, digital culture, and more. She has a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and resides in New York City.Do you have an interesting story to tell? You can reach Lauren at [email protected] or on Signal at ledmonds0.07.Popular StoriesNetflix wants to be Disney when it grows up Why Hollywood is paying this 17-year-old up to $20,000 to boost film trailers with TikTok editsHere's all the free money Trump's talked about giving Americans during his second term — and where it all standsA 17-year-old earned $72,000 after investing his e-commerce profits into stocks. Here's why he bet on the tech industry.Lawmakers float a nationwide basic income experiment that would cover the cost of a 2-bedroom apartmentNearly 30,000 Americans have received about $335 million in basic income. Here are 5 takeaways. Americans ditch suffocating healthcare costs and divisive politics to retire in Italy: 'It's the way they approach life'From 'road-schooling' to gas that costs $500, this family of 4 shares what it's like living in a solar-powered Greyhound bus

An airline worker waits at the Spirit Airlines terminal at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, in New York City, U.S., May 2, 2026. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesWASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) - Bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines (FLYYQ.PK), opens new tab, which ceased operations on Saturday, asked a U.S. bankruptcy court for approval to ​pay retention bonuses to remaining employees and said it had no choice but to ‌end operations.

Spirit is seeking court approval to pay $10.7 million in retention bonuses to employees who remain as the company ends operations -- averaging $76,000 per participant -- and will pay more to the top three executives but has not yet disclosed ​how much.

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"Having fought valiantly for months to reorganize, and having all but succeeded, (Spirit is) ​left with no alternative to an orderly wind-down of operation," Chief Financial Officer ⁠Fred Comer said on Monday in a court filing.

"There are no longer any viable paths to ​a restructuring or continued operations."

Spirit said the payments to the top three executives will replace some of ​the payments it would have offered the senior executives under annual incentive and cash incentive plans in place before the bankruptcy.

Bondholders may challenge Spirit's management bonuses, as some aspects of the wind-down plan, such as how liquidation proceeds and ​cost savings will be measured, are still being negotiated with the debtor-in-possession lenders, according to a ​separate filing.

The airline said it will retain about 150 employees before decreasing its headcount to about 40 after the ‌first ⁠three months, with expectations that its liquidation plan will be completed within that time frame.

Spirit says it does not have money to conduct an organized auction of its aircraft, engines and other equipment, and is asking the court for permission for fast sales or to abandon and let the lenders ​repossess.

The carrier had been ​in advanced talks with ⁠the Trump administration over a $500 million government bailout that would have helped it exit bankruptcy and granted the government up to 90% of Spirit's equity. ​Those talks collapsed after some creditors objected.

Global carriers are contending with surging jet ​fuel prices since ⁠the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, in the air travel industry's worst crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic. Spirit was already struggling to turn a profit before the fuel shock and ⁠has ​faced $100 million in incremental fuel costs since March 1.

"The material ​additional costs to Spirit proved to be too much for its available liquidity to absorb," Spirit said.

Reporting by David Shepardson in ​Washington and Dietrich Knauth and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Bill Berkrot

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SIXT stands ready to help affected travelers get where they need to go and welcomes Spirit Airlines team members to explore career opportunities

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SIXT USA, a subsidiary of Sixt SE, a global leader in premium mobility services, today announced a special offer for travelers impacted by the Spirit Airlines suspension of operations, providing those in need of alternative ground transportation with discounted one-way rental rates to help meet their near-term travel needs. SIXT is also inviting affected Spirit Airlines team members to explore career opportunities with the company.

Support for Spirit Airlines Travelers

SIXT is offering up to 20% off one-way rentals at participating U.S. locations to travelers whose Spirit Airlines flights have been cancelled or disrupted. Reservations must be made by May 17, 2026, with rentals taking place between May 5 and May 31, 2026, for a duration of one to 14 days. Vehicles must be returned no later than June 10, 2026.

This offer is available for select vehicle categories across SIXT's network of more than 120 locations in 27 states, including 56 major airports — many of which previously served Spirit Airlines routes. Impacted travelers can book at www.sixt.com/partners/travelassistance/. Additional information about SIXT, including rental locations, is available at SIXT.com or via the SIXT app.

Support for Spirit Airlines Team Members

SIXT recognizes that Spirit team members are navigating an incredibly difficult moment and wants to offer meaningful support. As SIXT continues its U.S. expansion, the company is actively recruiting across a broad range of roles — from operations and customer service to sales and corporate functions including finance, HR, and revenue management. With U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and locations nationwide, SIXT offers opportunities close to home and across the country. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit www.sixt.jobs/us/spirit to learn more and apply.

Tom Kennedy, President, SIXT North America: "When travelers face unexpected disruptions, our job is to step up. SIXT has the network, the locations, and the team to provide real solutions for people who need to get where they're going. We also recognize the very real impact this has on Spirit team members, and as we continue our robust expansion across the United States, we encourage anyone looking for their next opportunity to explore what SIXT has to offer."

SIXT’s focus on innovation and service excellence has earned multiple industry accolades, including being named “Best Car Rental & Mobility Innovation” company at the 2025 Frequent Traveler Awards, “#1 Rental Car Company” in the 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and one of Travel + Leisure Readers’ Five Favorite Car Rental Companies for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025).

In just 15 years, the United States has become SIXT's most important growth market. Today, the company operates more than 120 rental branches across 27 states and serves 56 of the busiest airports in the country. With operations established in Canada since 2022, SIXT has extended its North American footprint into another billion-dollar market.

We’re proud of our performance in the J.D. Power 2025 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study. Learn more: J.D. Power 2025 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study

About SIXT

Sixt SE with its registered office in Pullach near Munich, is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services. With its products SIXT rent, SIXT share, SIXT ride and SIXT+ car subscription the company offers a uniquely integrated premium mobility service across the fields of vehicle and commercial vehicle rental, car sharing, ride hailing and car subscriptions. The products can be booked, among others, through the SIXT App, which also contains the services of its renowned mobility partners. With the global rewards program SIXT ONE, the company is also strengthening customer retention across its core markets and offering members a fully digitally integrated experience with attractive benefits when renting vehicles. SIXT has a presence in more than 100 countries around the globe. The company offers its customers experiences that inspire and exceed their expectations – through a lived culture of innovation, a consistent premium offering in terms of fleet and service, and an attractive price-performance ratio. According to preliminary calculations, the Group achieved consolidated earnings before taxes of EUR 400.5 million in 2025 and a significant increase in consolidated revenue to EUR 4.28 billion. Sixt SE has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 1986 (ISIN ordinary share: DE0007231326, ISIN preference share: DE0007231334). For more information, please visit https://about.sixt.com/en/.

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Spirit Airlines and United Airlines removed over 54,000 flights, according to Cirium. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images Airlines canceled more than 75,000 flights this summer over a 10-day period, according to the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

On Tuesday, Cirium released an analysis of flight schedules between June 1 and September 30, comparing what those schedules looked like on April 24 versus May 4.

During those 10 days, airlines around the world removed more than 9.3 million seats, per Cirium.

US carriers accounted for the four largest reductions.

About 70% of the removed seats, or 33,000 flights, came from Spirit Airlines. The budget airline shut down last Saturday after negotiations for a federal bailout fell apart.

United Airlines reduced its summer schedule by over 21,000 flights over the 10-day period, marking the second-highest cancellation count.

Delta Air Lines removed around 7,300 flights, and American Airlines cut some 6,400 flights.

Airlines have faced significant cost increases since the war in Iran doubled jet fuel prices. In April, jet fuel exceeded $200 a barrel, but has dropped back to about $180 a barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Jet fuel is typically an airline's second-highest expenditure after labor costs.

When Spirit announced it was winding down operations, it cited "the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business."

The budget airline filed for Chapter 11 restructuring in August 2025 and in November 2024.

United Airlines, which reported a $340 million increase in fuel costs during the first quarter, is also cutting its schedule.

CEO Scott Kirby spoke about capacity cuts at a JP Morgan conference in March. "I'd much rather make the mistake of leaving a couple of months' worth of demand on the table because we cut more, and then you can get it back, as opposed to making the mistake of oil prices staying higher and longer, and you're flying flights that lose cash," he said.

Many airlines are raising ticket prices and baggage fees to offset higher fuel costs.

US carriers are more exposed to the price shock because, unlike most European airlines, they do not use financial derivatives to hedge against fuel costs.

Even so, Europe is also facing cancellations. Lufthansa, the continent's largest airline group by revenue, canceled over 5,000 flights that were scheduled between June and September, per Cirium's data.

The German flag carrier last month announced it was canceling 20,000 short-haul flights through October, reducing its capacity by 1%.

Not every airline has been slashing its schedule.

Cirium's data showed Frontier Airlines added more than 14,600 flights to its summer schedule.

After Spirit shut down, Frontier announced it would add nine new routes plus daily flights in 18 markets formerly served by its low-cost rival.

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Pete Syme You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Pete Syme is an aviation reporter for Business Insider, based in London.He writes about all things related to the industry, such as flight diversions, aviation safety, airline updates, travel tips, plane tours, and aviation leaders.Pete has appeared on BBC News to discuss a Heathrow Airport closure and on Sky News to talk about Boeing.Before joining Business Insider in 2022, he graduated with an MA in Newspaper Journalism from City, University of London. While getting his BA in English from the University of Exeter, he was the award-winning deputy editor of the student newspaper, Exeposé.You can get in touch by emailing [email protected] or via Signal @syme.99.

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Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu discusses the European jet fuel shortage, TSA staffing issues, recent air traffic close calls and more on 'Varney & Co.' 0:00 European Jet Fuel Shortage Concerns 0:53 Why Domestic Airfares Are Rising 1:51 TSA Staffing Crisis & Government Shutdown 4:10 Air Traffic Control Close Calls & Modernization 5:12 Grading Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

SummaryCompaniesMore A320neo planes available in the US after Spirit's demiseYoung Spirit A320neo jets are being dismantled for partsStrong demand for RTX Pratt & Whitney GTF engineNEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) - The recent grounding of U.S. budget carrier Spirit Airlines could help ease shortages of next-generation RTX (RTX.N), opens new tab spare engines needed ​to keep late-model Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab single-aisle jets flying, industry executives and analysts say.

Spirit ceased operating its all-Airbus fleet on May 1 due ‌to high jet-fuel prices. Its bankruptcy is leading to fresh cases of near-new A320neos being dismantled for parts - a trend that had already been occurring in the industry due to a severe shortage of RTX Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan engines.

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With more A320neo planes becoming available in the United States following Spirit's demise, the fuel-efficient GTF engines are often more appealing than ​the aircraft they power.

“We are seeing some of the GTF engines from the Spirit A320s being removed from the airframes and leased out ​to customers to support (aircraft on the ground)," said Austin Willis, CEO of Willis Lease Finance Corp (WLFC.O), opens new tab, who added that ⁠leasing rates for GTF engines have not declined.

"This is providing some limited temporary relief from the supply/demand imbalance."

Hundreds of A320neo planes have been grounded, due ​in part to long waiting times for engine inspections and repairs, and after a manufacturing problem at Pratt & Whitney put pressure on GTF engine output.

GTF engines power ​at least 40% of A320neos in service and compete for airline contracts with CFM International's (GE.N), opens new tab, (SAF.PA), opens new tab LEAP engine.

Airbus has complained of GTF shortages for new jets during a tug of war over who has priority to receive scarce engine supplies - assembly lines for new aircraft or airlines waiting for repairs.

Lars Wagner, CEO of Airbus' Commercial Aircraft business, declined to comment on ​the GTF during an interview on Wednesday.

AIRCRAFT PARTS PROVIDE RELIEFDick Allewelt, founder and owner of Allewelt Aviation Consulting GmbH in Germany, said teardowns of some ​Spirit aircraft "could have an easing effect on the spare engine market going forward."

Sumisho Air Lease, which leased late-model jets to Spirit, declined to comment. Lessor AerCap was not immediately ‌available for ⁠comment.

RTX, which declined to comment, said in April that cases of grounded A320neo aircraft are declining due to greater capacity at repair shops.

Arizona-based aftermarket supplier KP Aviation said there are several former Spirit Airlines aircraft that are being marketed for disassembly and teardown.

"There's a lot of money in the engines," said KP Aviation Chief Commercial Officer Scott Butler. "The airframes, there may not be as much appetite" as more Spirit aircraft come to market, he said.

In February, Dublin-based aviation asset ​management company EirTrade Aviation and Chicago-based ​aviation and rail lessor RESIDCO said ⁠they would dismantle two near-new Spirit A320neos for parts.

KP Aviation is planning to disassemble five-to-six-year-old planes from an earlier tranche of bright-yellow Spirit aircraft that returned to the market in late 2025.

After engines, Butler said there is also appetite ​for auxiliary power units, landing gear and flight controls.

BANKRUPTCY COURT ACCELERATES SALEEarlier this week, Spirit Airlines received permission ​from a U.S. bankruptcy ⁠court to accelerate its liquidation plan, including expedited sales of aircraft.

Spirit’s fleet totals as of May included 114 Airbus A320‑family aircraft, of which 66 are leased.

According to court filings, the carrier has 17 GTF engines which are owned by lessors. Lessors also own about 30 planes with GTF engines, according to a court filing.

However, these planes ⁠will not ​hit the market for at least a few months, Butler said, as the lessors compile ​technical information about the assets.

Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Additional reporting by Dietrich Knauth in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis

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