Spirit Airlines Asks Trump Administration For Emergency Bailout As It Faces Liquidation Over Rising Fuel Costs: Reports

Spirit Airlines has asked the Trump administration for an emergency bailout arsenic it faces nan threat of liquidation complete rising substance costs caused by nan Iran war, according to reports.

The fund bearer has struggled to rebound from nan Covid-19 pandemic and accommodate to shifting demand, arsenic passengers favored full-service airlines erstwhile recreation resumed. Spirit Airlines ended up filing for bankruptcy twice, first successful November 2024 and past successful August 2025. By its first bankruptcy filing, it had mislaid much than $2.5 cardinal since 2020.

Spirit Airlines appeared to beryllium making a comeback aft reaching an statement pinch creditors connected a scheme to slash indebtedness and trim operational costs. It was expected to look from bankruptcy this summer, until nan U.S. and Israel began launching strikes against Iran connected February 28.

When Iran efficaciously closed nan Strait of Hormuz successful retaliation, oil prices surged. Tehran announced Friday that the captious lipid passageway was reopened to commercialized traffic.

Spirit Airlines had planned for substance costs averaging astir $2.24 per gallon this twelvemonth and $2.14 adjacent year, Reuters reported. But pitchy substance prices person now spiked to astir $4.24 per gallon, according to nan publication.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Spirit was astatine consequence of being liquidated complete nan rising pitchy substance prices. The publication’s sources said a determination to liquidate could travel arsenic soon arsenic this week, but a Reuters root said that location are nary plans for nan hose to liquidate successful nan coming days.

Spirit Airlines told The Independent Thursday, “We don’t remark connected marketplace rumors and speculation. Our operations proceed arsenic normal.”

With talk of nan bearer perchance liquidating, recreation experts warned that customers pinch booked flights could extremity up stranded.

But now, location whitethorn beryllium dream for nan struggling airline, pursuing reports of a bailout petition for nan Trump administration.

Spirit Airlines has asked nan Trump management for hundreds of millions of dollars successful emergency backing to thief pinch nan rising substance costs, group acquainted pinch nan matter told nan aviation news site, The Air Current.

CBS News later reported connected nan bailout petition to forestall liquidation, pinch 1 root saying, “Spirit is looking for a lifeline.”

An charismatic from nan Department of Transportation told The Independent that nan agency is monitoring Spirit’s business but would not corroborate whether nan management was approached for a bailout.

The Independent has reached retired to Spirit Airlines and nan White House for comment.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to meet pinch fund bearer executives, including those from Spirit, adjacent week, according to nan reports. Duffy regularly checks successful pinch these carriers and a root for The Air Current said adjacent week’s gathering will attraction connected nan wellness of nan nation’s smaller airlines.

CBS News’ Senior Transportation Correspondent Kris Van Cleave said successful a video posted to societal media Thursday that if Spirit is forced to liquidate, “Other airlines already person plans successful spot to connection what they telephone rescue fares — discounted one-way fares to get group home.”

Katy Nastro, a recreation master pinch nan airfare monitoring tract Going, told ABC News that Spirit customers should not cancel their booked flights if nan hose does liquidate “because past you forfeit your correct to a refund if there's still immoderate money near complete to beryllium capable to do so."