What travelers need to know about Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy
A passenger waits for assistance at the Spirit Airlines check-in counter in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on November 13, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection , becoming the first major U.S. passenger carrier to do so since American Airlines 13 years ago. The budget-travel icon is not shutting down, however. The filing will buy Spirit time and protection to restructure so the carrier can continue flying and bringing in sorely needed cash. CEO Ted Christie wrote to customers on Monday to reassure them that they can continue to book flights and use loyalty points or credits normally. Here’s what travelers need to know: Why did Spirit file for bankruptcy? Spirit Airlines has been losing money since 2019, but its financial woes worsened after the pandemic, when industry costs climbed, dozens of its Airbus jets were grounded because of an engine recall and a federal judge blocked Spirit’s planne
