Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, May 2: Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down operations in the early hours of May 2, cancelling all flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded and rushing to make alternate travel arrangements.
In a statement, the airline said it would not be able to assist passengers with rebooking on other carriers. However, it confirmed that refunds would be issued immediately for tickets booked directly through its website using credit or debit cards.
The US Department of Transportation said several airlines have stepped in to support affected travellers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that major carriers are offering relief measures such as discounted or capped fares.
Airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways have introduced measures to ease disruptions.
Many carriers are offering reduced fares or placing caps on ticket prices for passengers holding cancelled Spirit bookings. Travellers are required to present their Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment to avail these benefits.
American Airlines has introduced “rescue fares” on overlapping routes and is considering adding extra flights and larger aircraft to accommodate demand. Delta Air Lines is offering reduced fares for five days in markets previously served by Spirit, while United Airlines has capped one-way fares at $199 for nonstop flights and $299 for connecting routes.
JetBlue is offering one-way fares starting at $99 on select routes, while Southwest Airlines has capped fares between $200 and $400 depending on distance, available for purchase at airport counters.
Frontier Airlines, which competed with Spirit on over 100 routes, has announced up to 50 per cent discount on base fares for select bookings, while Allegiant has committed to freezing prices on overlapping routes. Avelo Airlines is offering promotional discounts and status matches for frequent flyers.
The sudden shutdown marks a major disruption in the US aviation sector, with airlines scrambling to absorb stranded passengers and minimise travel chaos.