About Spirit
Spirit Airlines (ICAO: NKS) ceased all flight operations on May 2, 2026, and is no longer an active airline,. Therefore, sections regarding traveler reviews and safety information for an active airline are not applicable.
Spirit Airlines was an American ultra-low-cost carrier, founded in 1964 as a trucking company before transitioning to charter flights in 1983 and then scheduled passenger service in 1992. It was headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, and operated scheduled flights throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Before ceasing operations, it was the seventh-largest passenger carrier in North America and the region's largest ultra-low-cost carrier. The airline's business model focused on very low base fares, supplemented by additional fees for nearly every service, which allowed it to expand rapidly by attracting price-conscious leisure travelers,.
Spirit Airlines operated an all-Airbus A320 family fleet. At the time of its closure, its fleet size was 131 aircraft, serving 73 destinations. Its operating bases included Atlanta, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston–Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, Newark, and Orlando. Spirit Airlines was not a member of any major airline alliance.
The airline's ultra-low-cost model, which pioneered unbundled and no-frills services in the U.S. in 2007, faced increasing pressure in the 2020s as legacy carriers introduced basic economy fares, eroding Spirit's price advantage,. Labor, aircraft, and operating costs also increased, contributing to its financial difficulties. Spirit filed for Chapter 11 protection in late 2024 and re-entered bankruptcy in August 2025, ultimately leading to its wind-down of operations on May 2, 2026, after rescue talks collapsed.
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Route network
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Route Network Map
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Showing 91 airports in the Spirit network.
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