Spirit Airlines officially shuts down, last flight lands at Dallas Airport

The last Spirit Airlines flight (NK-1833) departed the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) at 10:30 pm on Friday. The airline's closure was announced earlier the same day by the Wall Street Journal, after the $500 million government bailout deal fell through. The flight became the number one most-tracked flight in the world, according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo, and the air traffic controller was unable to find any other Spirit flight in the air or due to depart in the system. "It was a pleasure working with you guys, and I wish you the best," said the air traffic controller as the flight prepared to land at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Spirit Airlines officially announced a wind-down of its operations on May 2 and cancelled all its flights. Customer service is no longer available and are instructed not to go to airports. Spirit states it will automatically process refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card to the original form of payment. Guests who booked flights through a travel agent should contact their agent directly to request a refund. Compensation for those who booked flights using other methods, such as using a voucher, credit or Free Spirit points, will be determined at a later date through the bankruptcy process. "For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry," said Dave Davis, Spirit President and CEO. "In March 2026, we reached an agreement with our bondholders on a restructuring plan that would have allowed us to emerge as a go-forward business. However, the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks has ultimately left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the Company. Sustaining the business required hundreds of millions of additional dollars of liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could not procure. This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted."RELATED STORIES: ATC tells Spirit Airlines pilot to 'get off the iPad,' get away from Air Force One Spirit Airlines files Chapter 11 bankruptcy, shares restructuring plans Spirit Airlines partners with CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy on pilot training fast track program Former Spirit flight attendants will have their hotels and flights back home accommodated, according to the Association of Flight Attendants. DOT Secretary Duffy announced at a Saturday press conference at the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) that United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines will cap their ticket prices for Spirit customers trying to rebook their flights. Customers will have to show their Spirit confirmation number and proof of payment.