Two major U.S. airlines are planning for Spirit Airliens to cease operations as early as Saturday, according to The Air Current. I’d heard and discussed this with some readers last week as well. However Jon Ostrower points out,
- Spirit’s debtor-in-possession financing requires them to come up with either details of a potential sale transaction, or a standalone reorganization plan.
- Either one needs to be acceptable to its lenders.
- And the deadline to release the next $100 million in funding is Saturday.
- But no plan has yet been filed.
Spirit is losing over $3 million a day and needs this funding. Spirit denies that they are preparing to cease operations. And, they say, discussions with their lenders remain “ongoing” and “productive.”
In a story that I first broke earlier in the week, Spirit agreed to sell two Chicago O’Hare gates to American Airlines for $30 million. This transaction was approved by the bankruptcy court. Spirit intends to pay down debtor-in-possession financing with these funds.
JetBlue’s founder still thinks that Frontier and Spirit will merge. I believe Spirit’s pieces are more valuable than the airline itself at this point (and even if surviving as a standalone they’d probably be better off rebranding – the Spirit name is toxic). Their Fort Lauderdale gates, as well as gates and slots at congested airports, remain valuable assets.
Spirit has managed to gain flight attendant and pilot union approval for wage cuts, which helps reach their financial restructuring goals. Lower wages and career uncertainty has driven enough of an exodus from the airline that they’ve cancelled 2026 pilot furloughs. Aviation watchdog JonNYC says that many of these Spirit pilots are being hired by American Airlines.
"An example of why Spirit didn’t need to furlough. AA Union released a list of the last 3 new hire classes and where the pilots came from.
Out of 184 hired in the last 3 classes. 56 of those came from Spirit. 30% of new hires came from Spirit.
56 pilots left Spirit Airlines and…— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) December 12, 2025
I do not expect a Saturday shutdown. Spirit is not likely at zero cash without a weekend injection of the next $100 million. And it’s likely that their assets are worth more while they’re a going concern than simply parted out. So if no agreeable filing occurs by end of business today, discussions could continue into next week, despite the Saturday deadline.
It would make sense that American Airlines would one of the airlines preparing for Spirit’s demise.
That would be why AA bought the 2 gates in ORD so they don’t end up in a bankruptcy auction.
Spirit: “Why are there all these vultures circling around anyway?”
*Ralph Wiggum I’m in Danger meme*
It’s just a matter of time. And I sincerely hope that their employees have put their financial houses in order. I don’t wish this on anyone. Terrible how this always happens right before Christmas. The sharks are already swimming around the dead body.
Unless SPIRIT is acquired and merged into another Carrier such as FRONTIER their time is limited. jetBLUE is no longer an option because they do not have two nickels to rub together let alone acquire Anyone. The Big Four really do not anything from SPIRIT only assets and they are willing to sit it out and wait until the operation tanks.
Maybe not next weekend but I see no way out. Remember if creditors believe they will get a better return liquidating assets they’re are going to march in court and try to get their way. I don’t think Frontier wants to take on a 100 money losing airplane operation. Frontier has their own doubtful future. YTD losses of $190 million. Maybe pick some random assets in a liquidation sale.
Spirit is headed for liquidation. Game over. Frontier is not too far behind.
The Vultures believe is a rotten banana but calm down and stop talking so much garbage stop being a wiser Scot Kirby wannabe talking so much garbage about his competitors and leave NK alone on their process is good to have NK around and I believe they will came out of this difficult chapter and strive we need more airlines NOT less the Big 4 or 5 has ruined this damn industry consolidation hasn’t improved anything for anyone only for incompetent idiots arrogants SOAB that has such of brilliant ideas look at your current airlines and tell me if any of you are better than 20 or 30 years ago lets star WN? What about you AA? Do you remembered the great AMR ? Many airlines before didn’t do good because they were not good was only because stupid incompetent leadership like AW US DL NW TW RN Western Eastern UA CO etc NK is in this position just because an incompetent leader that no one mentions Ted Christie is the one to blame and the first bankruptcy was so stupid and incompetent that this fool should be in jail for all the millions he left with and his lieutenants for a pissed worthless incompetence performance and his asset’s should be seized and returned to NK this MFR shouldn’t be allowed to be in any other airline ever by the way I don’t work for NK just in case happy retired from this industry.
When Spirit Airlines declares bankruptcy, will American Airlines purchase additional gates at Florida airports so it can sponsor the weekly departure gate brawls currently hosted by Spirit Airlines?
Gary had an article October 9 about 2009 when US Airways’ finances were so bad that American Express executives flew to Phoenix to personally tell Doug Parker it would “withhold credit card charges from the airline” because “a card processor knows that if an airline goes under they’re going to face consumer chargebacks, and they want a cash reserve to cover those.”
I wonder if this has happened yet.
Thank you Lina!
Biden built that. So much for more competition.
False. Funding was received upon results of labor passing concession agreements on Thursday. Plan filing deadline extended as of last night until April 28, 2026.
You all gotta do better. All publishing the same out of date info. Is there ever any true original content on Boarding Area or just reposts of reposts?
The interesting play here is going to be what happens at FLL of NK liquidates. I don’t see AA or DL jumping in the FLL assets as they’re both hyper-focused on MIA.
UA says they’re not interested, but I’d say the same thing too if I were them. This is their easiest way to a focus city or hub in Florida. A 20+ gate operation at FLL would vault UA to the #1 carrier at FLL.
I am praying it’s not Frontier to the rescue. That would just be more of the same…only worse.
I do think that Biden should have let the JetBlue and Spirit deal happen. Spirit can’t survive. So there will be less competition.
where is the like button for NedsKid?
The United Airlines CEO and uppity airline geeks have been waiting for this to happen (if it happens). The “those folks are beneath me” crowd get ready to celebrate. Not sure why the United guy is thinking $40 Spirit passengers are gonna go running over to his expensive airline. The world is so crazy these days.
@NedsKid, @Tim Dunn — Yeah, a few extra months would be nice for them, but probably won’t amount to much. Also, nice meta-commentary; seriously, what is the deal with Boarding Area? Like, clearly there us coordinated delay between Ben, Matt, Gary, etc.
@Atiya — If LCCs go under, those that cannot afford to fly, simply will not fly. Folks like Kirby, Isom, Ed, etc. are only salivating over gates, slots, maybe aircraft and pilots, not necessarily those potential passengers.
@Ken A — Asking the real questions!
@Mantis — But, but… the autopen…
@1990,
I don’t think LCCs (plural) are going under, maybe Spirit. Frontier isn’t going anywhere. If Spirit goes under, Frontier, Avelo, and Allegiant will absorb most of their passengers. The 3 big airlines probably won’t get many slots. They own half of New York City and most of DC. Owning almost everything is illegal in the United States (Sherman Act/Clayton Act). They will probably get some gates at the other big American airports.
Dollar General needs to step up and buy Spirit. They don’t even need to repaint the planes!
Hear me out. Imagine they only fly to rural airports like MTJ or GJT. Only have one pilot and one flight attendant. The pilot is also in charge of stocking the galley and flight attendant loads up the luggage. Snacks and meals depend on whatever was in the catering truck when it pulled up.
And of course it looks like a deal at first but you’ll pay just as much or more. But at least you didn’t need to take the Bustang to DIA!
Why do so many people seem to find joy in the suffering of others?
JetBlue and Spirit merger was not the answer. It’s no different than losing Spirit. JetBlue struggles operationally and it’s only relevant if you’re in NYC or Boston. They’re not strong enough around the country and would get crushed by the big three + Southwest if they used Spirit to grow elsewhere (with the exception of FLL). Spirit shareholders were dumb when they went with JetBlue over Frontier. JetBlue would have killed off a ULCC but with Frontier, they would have become a mega ULCC and, even without Spirit as a competitor, would have kept prices low
I have flown JetBlue quite a few times and have never flown them through or to or from Boston and have flown them through or to or from NYC only once. Yes, they have strong presence in those cities but those are not the only places they fly. I have flown JetBlue from LAX to MIA return. Now I would have to fly to FLL but that is not that far away.
@DesertGhost you live by the sword, you’re apt to fall by it. Spirit has been credited in certain quarters for bringing air fare down (as if it were solely responsible for making air travel affordable for the general public), but it has also undeniably allowed other, larger competitors to degrade their own dedication to customer service with its palpable disdain for the idea of putting the customer first.
Maybe we can feel for their employees, but at this point, it’s safe to assume they knew what they were signing up for, and what they were signing up to do, when they first put pen to paper on their contracts with the company. I will shed no tears for anyone involved in this operation, and frankly, neither should anybody else.
Two major U.S. airlines are planning for Spirit *Airliens* to cease operations as early as Saturday, according to The Air Current.
I doubt any airline wants to buy Spirit! Instead, they are cherry picking thru the remaining assets like AA did with the two gates at ORD or picking up free agent pilots. Also, Spirit has culled half its airframes. Some will be dismantled for spares, other assigned to carriers in need of immediate capacity.
At the moment, gates, slots, and a few hangers are the only items of value. Maybe a match of Spirits FF program, but only the high rollers.
Should we have a dreadful winter or fuel go sky high due to a crisis, the creditors need to call in the lawyers and claim Chapter 7.
Why did the DemoRats stop the merger knowing this would happen. Investigation required.
It’s time to call the priest.
It’s not about alcohol in the system with flight crew suspected of being over the limit. Any pilot who drinks before a flight, even if they’re within the rules, is POOR judgement. Any pilot that has to wrap their lips around a whiskey glass the night before a flight is foolish. Besides poor judgement, it shows lack of discipline and a potential alcohol problem.
Poor judgement cannot be trained out of a person. You either have sound judgement or you don’t.
The argument thrown around that alcohol has never been tied to an aviation disaster is nonsense. It’s all about sound, wise judgement. Period.