Spirit Airlines is discontinuing several routes next month, including four in California, following the company’s decision to again file Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
After months of speculation, Spirit announced last week it would undergo a restructuring process in order to “ensure the long-term success of our airline.” Chapter 11 bankruptcy will allow the airline to continue to operate while receiving court supervision and protections in hopes of averting a complete business closure. It’s the second time the company filed for Chapter 11 in the last 10 months.
As part of that ongoing restructuring process, Spirit Airlines announced Thursday that several routes in major cities would be dropped in order to focus stronger performing markets.
In total, Spirit is ending service at 11 airports, and abandoning plans to launch at another.
Among the affected cities are Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego and San Jose in California; others include Portland, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Service will be discontinued in these cities on Oct. 2.
New service in Macon, Georgia, was expected to launch on Oct. 16, but Spirit will no longer move forward with those plans.
“We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience this may cause and will reach out to those with affected reservations to notify them of their options, including a refund,” an airline spokesperson said. “We are grateful to the airports, business partners and community members in these markets who welcomed and supported us.”
Spirit says it remains “committed to offering high-value travel options” and will continue to serve its existing destinations throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America.
We remain committed to offering high-value travel options and will continue to serve dozens of destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.
Spirit will continue to fly out of LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, its last remaining California cities.
Financial woes have plagued Spirit Airlines since the coronavirus pandemic, and a failed merger with JetBlue that was blocked by the Biden administration further accelerated the company’s decline.
In November 2024, Spirit filed for Chapter 11 reorganization, a process that concluded in March. The airline carries more than $2.4 billion in long-term debt, the bulk of which is due by 2030, according to the Associated Press.
Other low-cost carriers have also struggled to compete in the air travel landscape since the pandemic, including Southwest, the nation’s largest such carrier. Southwest has searched for new revenue opportunities which has led to the discontinuation of some of the airline’s most popular perks, including free checked bags and open seating.
Avelo, which has been flying since 2021 under its current banner, announced earlier this year it would be contracting and ceasing all operations on the West Coast by December.
Breeze Airways, founded by former JetBlue CEO David Neeleman, announced it would take over the majority of the West Coast routes that Avelo left behind beginning next year.
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