The Journal. R.I.P. Spirit Airlines
129 snips
May 4, 2026 
Alison Sider, a Wall Street Journal reporter covering airlines, walks through Spirit Airlines’ collapse. She traces its no-frills fare revolution, why travelers moved on from the discount model, and how merger hopes with Frontier and JetBlue unraveled. Then the focus turns to fuel costs, failed bailout talks, and what Spirit’s disappearance could mean for travelers and competition.
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Spirit Made Flying Cheap By Unbundling Everything
- Spirit expanded flying by selling ultra-cheap base fares and charging separately for almost everything else.
- Alison Sider says many customers chose between Spirit and not traveling at all, while larger airlines later copied its fee-heavy playbook.
Postpandemic Travelers Stopped Wanting Bare Bones Flights
- Spirit's model weakened after the pandemic because travelers shifted toward comfort and premium perks instead of bare-bones fares.
- Alison Sider says customers had points, bought extra legroom or lounges, and then refused to go back to no-frills flying.
The Failed Merger Saga Left Spirit Exposed
- Spirit tried to save itself through a merger, first with Frontier, then with JetBlue after a higher bid won over investors.
- The DOJ blocked the JetBlue deal in 2024, and while regulators deliberated, Spirit's finances deteriorated into bankruptcy.