Spirit Airlines says it's going out of business after 34 years and is ending operations immediately

Spirit Airlines has announced it has gone out of business after 34 years, and has begun an orderly wind-down of operations. CNN reports the airline canceled all flights, began winding down on May 2, 2026, and estimated about 17,000 workers would lose their jobs, with refunds issued to passengers who paid by card and others needing to rebook with alternative carriers. PBS NewsHour confirms the closure and wind-down. Washington Times repeats the shutdown language, but reliability is lower. Disagreements concern the overall immediate status versus ongoing wind-down specifics; CNN provides the clearest operational details and employee impact, while PBS corroborates the closure claim.