<a href="https://reason.com/2025/08/15/spirit-airlines-may-go-out-of-business-because-of-the-justice-department/" target="_blank">View original image source</a>.
Spirit Airlines is in a bit of a scramble after the Department of Justice hit the brakes on its merger with JetBlue. Why is this a big deal? Well, Spirit has been limping along, reporting huge losses—like a net loss of $36 million in Q3 2022, then a whopping $270 million in Q4. When JetBlue attempted to swoop in for a merger, Spirit’s president thought it was a match made in heaven for budget travelers. But the DOJ had other ideas, fearing it would eliminate competition and raise fares. Spoiler alert: the courts agreed with the DOJ.
Fast forward to November 2024, and we find Spirit in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, trying to find its wings again—or maybe just a comfy seat next to a window. The airline has been laying off pilots and selling off assets to stay afloat, which sounds more like a desperate garage sale than a thriving business model. Financial experts, however, aren’t holding their breath for Spirit’s revival. One predicts that unless it can pull off a miraculous turnaround, the airline might be flying its final route soon.
In times of such turbulence, it’s hard not to wonder about the future of budget travel. Do we really want to see Spirit take its last flight, or is there a place for it in the crowded skies? If you’re a fan of cheap airfare, how would it feel if your go-to low-cost carrier disappeared? Well, let’s just hope Spirit can pull through and keep cranking out those wallet-friendly flights. After all, a world without low-cost options might just drive some of us to road trips—and snacks that cost more than plane tickets!
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