Spirit plans to shutdown with unknown timing, WSJ reports. Trump says he's still working on a bailout
By Tom Hudson
May 1, 2026 at 12:35 PM EDT
Spirit Airlines is preparing to stop flying. But the timing of a final decision is uncertain, according to The Wall Street Journal.
But President Donald Trump says he’s still looking at a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines.
“We’re looking at it. If we could do it, we’ll do it. But only if it’s a good deal,” Trump told reporters on Friday as he prepared to leave the White House for a trip to Florida.
He didn’t offer any details about what proposal he was considering but said he’d like to save jobs at the airline, which has filed for bankruptcy twice in two years.
READ MORE: How Spirit Airlines grew so fast — and why it's experiencing so much turbulence now
Trump said his administration gave Spirit “a final proposal” and would make an announcement soon.
The discount airline, based in Broward County, is the largest airline operating out of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where it was responsible for 25% of the passenger flights in February.
The airline has been in bankruptcy protection since last August. It was its second bankruptcy in less than two years. It has remained operating during its bankruptcy reorganization.
The company has called back hundreds of pilots and flight attendants it furloughed over the past two years to replace employees who have left the airline while it's in bankruptcy. Spirit ended last year with 9,700 employees, down almost 20% from the previous year.
But President Donald Trump says he’s still looking at a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines.
“We’re looking at it. If we could do it, we’ll do it. But only if it’s a good deal,” Trump told reporters on Friday as he prepared to leave the White House for a trip to Florida.
He didn’t offer any details about what proposal he was considering but said he’d like to save jobs at the airline, which has filed for bankruptcy twice in two years.
READ MORE: How Spirit Airlines grew so fast — and why it's experiencing so much turbulence now
Trump said his administration gave Spirit “a final proposal” and would make an announcement soon.
The discount airline, based in Broward County, is the largest airline operating out of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where it was responsible for 25% of the passenger flights in February.
The airline has been in bankruptcy protection since last August. It was its second bankruptcy in less than two years. It has remained operating during its bankruptcy reorganization.
The company has called back hundreds of pilots and flight attendants it furloughed over the past two years to replace employees who have left the airline while it's in bankruptcy. Spirit ended last year with 9,700 employees, down almost 20% from the previous year.