U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the agency has secured options to support Spirit ticketholders and help impacted employees.
WASHINGTON — Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations overnight, canceling all flights and ending customer service support by Saturday morning, but U.S. officials are coordinating relief efforts to help support ticketholders and employees.
The ultralow cost airline that once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes and employed about 17,000 people said it had “started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.”
“We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,” the announcement said.
The company advised customers that they could expect refunds, but there would be no help in booking travel on other airlines.
Federal officials have pledged to help support existing Spirit Airlines ticketholders and airline employees who have been impacted.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the agency has been coordinating across the aviation industry to “ensure ticketholders get where they need to go” and to assist employees left without a job.
“In a matter of hours, we’ve activated our airline partners to ensure passengers are not stranded, communities maintain routine access, fares do not skyrocket, and Spirit’s workforce is connected to new job opportunities,” Duffy said in a news release.
Actions for flyers
Transportation officials said they have negotiated an agreement among nine airlines to help passengers in a variety of ways.
United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest have committed to capping ticket prices for Spirit ticketholders who need to rebook canceled flights. They will be available for a limited time, listed as follows:
- JetBlue: Available for 72 hours
- Southwest: Available for 72 hours, only in person at an airport ticket counter
- Delta: Available for five days
- United: Available for two weeks online
Another way airlines have committed to helping out potentially stranded Spirit flyers is through reduced fares. Those include American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Frontier is offering 50% off base fares across its network until May 10.
Breez, Avelo and Allegiant also agreed to help support flyers, but the news release did not specify how they would be providing relief for Spirit customers.
Compensation rules
The U.S. Department of Transportation encouraged Spirit ticketholders who are pursuing a refund to do the following.
Contact your credit card company to see if you are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. You can also contact your issuer to request a “chargeback” for services not rendered.
Check travel insurance provider to see if your policy covers “insolvency” or “service cessation.”
File a bankruptcy claim. Transportation officials remind consumers that they may need to file a formal “proof of claim” with the bankruptcy court, which can take time and may only result in a partial refund.
Former employees
Federal officials have pledged to support workers who were impacted by Spirit Airlines ceasing all operations.
Transportation officials said most major U.S. carriers are extending travel pass benefits and spare jump seats to Spirit pilots, flight attendants and other employees who need to return home.
Carriers are also offering Spirit team members “preferential employment interviews to ensure they jump the queue.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.