On Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines is shutting down as a business after failing to secure a $500m (£368m) bailout from the Trump administration. Spirit Airlines has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in UAE.

Key facts

• Spirit Airlines is shutting down as a business after failing to secure a $500m (£368m) bailout from the Trump administration.
• Spirit Airlines says started 'wind-down of operations.
• Savanthi Syth, airlines analyst at the investment bank Raymond James, said spiralling jet fuel costs in the wake of the Iran war had proved "the final nail in the coffin" for Spirit.
• The airline had been in talks with the Trump administration about a $500m bailout.
• Fuel costs can make up as much as 40% of an airline's outgoings, and airlines have seen the cost of jet fuel double since the US and Israeli strikes began at the end of February.

What we know

Going deeper, Spirit Airlines says started 'wind-down of operations.

On the substance, Savanthi Syth, airlines analyst at the investment bank Raymond James, said spiralling jet fuel costs in the wake of the Iran war had proved "the final nail in the coffin" for Spirit.

Beyond the headlines, the airline had been in talks with the Trump administration about a $500m bailout.

More precisely, Fuel costs can make up as much as 40% of an airline's outgoings, and airlines have seen the cost of jet fuel double since the US and Israeli strikes began at the end of February.

It is worth noting that Correction 02/05/2026: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the refund process for cancelled Spirit flights.

By the numbers

At this stage, Speaking to the BBC, Syth said the operator had shied away from the radical overhaul it needed during a 2024 bankruptcy procedure.

On a related note, the earlier plan, which would have seen the US government take effective ownership of as much as 90% of the airline, faced stiff opposition from Wall Street, Capitol Hill and even a member of Trump's own cabinet.

Going deeper, Brent crude crosses $120 per barrel as UAE announces May oil prices.

On the substance, Gold prices stabilise, lose Dh1 per gram as interest rates remain unchanged.

The wider context

On a related note, all Spirit flights have been cancelled, and Spirit Guests should not go to the airport,' the airline said in a press release in the early hours of Saturday.

Going deeper, Low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines said on Saturday that all of its flights have been cancelled as it started an "orderly wind-down of operations," after a potential White House bailout fell through.

On the substance, Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc., parent company of Spirit Airlines... today regretfully announced that the Company has started an orderly wind-down of operations, effective immediately.

Beyond the headlines, Spirit was emerging from its second bankruptcy filing in recent years before the US-Israel war in Iran, but the resulting surge in jet fuel costs pushed it over the brink.

More precisely, all upcoming flights with Spirit have been cancelled.

The bottom line

• The airline had been in talks with the Trump administration about a $500m bailout.
• All Spirit flights have been cancelled, and Spirit Guests should not go to the airport,' the airline said in a press release in the early hours of Saturday.
• All upcoming flights with Spirit have been cancelled.