Spirit Airlines announced its immediate shutdown on Saturday, canceling scores of flights across the United States including over a dozen at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, leaving travelers scrambling to figure out their next moves.
Effective in the early morning hours, the ultralow cost airline said it had “started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.”
The airline said on its website that all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.
“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.
At O’Hare, eight arriving flights were canceled, along with 10 departures, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
The department released the following statement:
“O’Hare International Airport recognizes the disruption caused by the sudden cessation of operations by Spirit Airlines and the impact on passengers with upcoming travel plans.
Customers booked on Spirit Airlines flights beginning Saturday, May 2, should not travel to O’Hare without first securing alternative arrangements with another air carrier. Passengers are encouraged to contact Spirit Airlines directly regarding refunds or credits and to explore rebooking options with other airlines.
Spirit Airlines served 14 destinations from O’Hare, all of which continue to be served nonstop by other carriers at the airport. Airline partners are working hard to accommodate affected passengers.
Airport personnel are available to assist with general information; however, rebooking must be completed directly with an airline. Passengers should check with their airline and monitor official channels for the latest updates before heading to the airport.”
Spirit once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes and employed about 17,000 people.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Saturday that Spirit had a reserve fund set up for customers who bought directly from the airline to get refunds. People who bought from third-party vendors like travel agents would have to seek refunds from them. He had a stark message for people flying with Spirit.
“If you have a flight scheduled with Spirit Airlines, don’t show up at the airport. There will be no one here to assist you,” Duffy said.
He said United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest were offering $200 one-way flights for people who could confirm that they had Spirit confirmation numbers and proof of purchase for a limited time. Duffy also said other airlines would help with Spirit employees who might be stranded as well as offering them a preferential application process as they look for work.
The company advised customers that they could expect refunds but there would be no help in booking travel on other airlines.
