Several Spirit Airlines workers said they were told operations were fine hours before the shutdown, leaving many stranded in cities and scrambling for next steps.
HOUSTON — Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down operations early Saturday, ending more than three decades in business and leaving thousands of employees without jobs.
The airline ceased operations at 3 a.m., canceling all flights and effectively halting service nationwide. Travelers with tickets were advised not to come to the airport, while customer service lines went unanswered and check-in counters sat empty.
Roughly 17,000 employees nationwide were impacted by the shutdown.
Union representatives notified flight attendants shortly before the public announcement, according to employees, some of whom said they were reassured just hours earlier that operations would continue as normal.
“Until late last night, management and scheduling were telling us operations were fine,” said Jazmah Bell, a flight attendant who had worked for Spirit since 2022. “We were thinking everything was going to continue, business as normal — and then, boom.”
Scenes at airports reflected the sudden halt. Once-busy ticket counters were deserted, and passengers scrambled for alternatives.
One of the airline’s final flights landed in Dallas, Texas, where a pilot delivered an emotional message to passengers, reflecting on the airline’s history and final moments.
“As we sit here, I don’t remember any of the bad times. Just the good ones,” the pilot said.
Spirit had struggled financially in recent years, failing to turn a profit since the COVID-19 pandemic and filing for bankruptcy twice. Many employees had already begun making contingency plans amid the uncertainty.
Bell said she had taken a voluntary furlough last year and shifted into teaching. It’s a path she plans to continue. Still, she noted many of her colleagues were caught off guard and are now stranded in cities across the country, relying on other airlines for travel.
“I have a few people that are stuck,” Bell said. “I’ve seen some people in New York, Miami and Orlando, and they’re depending on other airlines.”
Federal officials said some carriers are offering travel benefits to displaced Spirit employees, while others have introduced limited fare accommodations for customers affected by the shutdown.