America dodges $500 million bullet, refuses to bail out Spirit Airlines. The savings will pay for another 6 hours of the Iran war.

Photo above - air show by the Commemorative Air Force, based in Deland Florida, before Spirit Airlines announced they were ceasing operations today.

Readers will recall from my previous columns that I was critical of Trump’s plan to bail out Spirit with a $500 million loan in exchange for 90% federal ownership. This was a transparent vote buying scheme ahead of the mid-terms. The cost would have been $40,000 per vote and/or saved Spirit job. Without this bailout, Spirit ceased operations at 3am today. (see link below).

So this is what happens next, in the real world of market-based economies, when a weak company fails and is not rescued by politicians:

About 70-80% of Spirit employees will immediately be interviewed and hired by legitimate airlines. The actual number hired will be based on how many Spirit planes are acquired by those competitors, and routes which continue. I predict that the non-stop service from Fort Lauderdale to Guatemala is probably on the short list of routes to be cut.

The jets will be sold at auction, or the leasing companies will flip them to carriers like Delta, United, and American. Apparently, those jetliners are in fine shape, notwithstanding all the problems Spirit had in meeting luggage, departure, and in-cabin service expectations from passengers.

Spirit’s back-office employees will bear the brunt of the job losses. Few competing airlines need more accountants, supply chain managers, reservations system people, pricing strategists, or compliance/legal staff. Mechanics, flight crews, and cabin attendants will be saved, however.

Vacationers and tourists will continue to fly to Disneyworld, Universal Studios, the Kennedy Space Center, play golf, go coral reef snorkeling, and visit “Gator World”. I also recommend the Commemorative Air Force (previously known as the Confederate Air Force) which operates a squadron in Deland, Florida, with well-preserved examples of US warbirds still flying.

My best wishes to former Spirit Airlines workers as they begin interviewing for new jobs. It’s mostly not your fault that your employer crashed and burned. High fuel prices and crazy-bad destinations were the problem. Just remember in your interview to assert that “the most important things to me are passenger satisfaction and safety”, and you should do fine.

I’m just sayin’ . . .


Spirit Airlines says it will cease operations : NPR

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5807933/spirit-airlines-ceases-operations-folds