Spirit Airlines Ends Service To 11 U.S. Cities

Spirit Airlines is exiting 11 U.S. markets and shelving plans for a new service launch as the ULCC pares back its network during its second Chapter 11 restructuring in less than a year.

The cuts, effective in early October, include the end of all service to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Birmingham, Alabama; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Columbia, South Carolina; Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose and San Diego, California; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Boise, Idaho. Spirit is also pulling plans to launch Fort Lauderdale–Macon, Georgia, flights on Oct. 16, part of a partnership with Contour Airlines.

Affected routes include Albuquerque–Las Vegas, Birmingham–Fort Lauderdale, Chattanooga–Newark, Columbia–Orlando, Detroit–San Diego and multiple West Coast intra-California services. Chattanooga and Columbia are among Spirit’s newest destinations, having only launched in June.

“As part of our efforts to transform our business and position Spirit for long-term success, we are adjusting our network to focus on our strongest-performing markets,” a spokesperson for Spirit says. “We apologize to our guests for any inconvenience this may cause and will reach out to those with affected reservations to notify them of their options, including a refund.

“We are grateful to the airports, business partners and community members in these markets who welcomed and supported us. We remain committed to offering high-value travel options and will continue to serve dozens of

The move follows Spirit Aviation Holdings’ Aug. 29 Chapter 11 filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, just five months after the company emerged from its prior restructuring. At the time, the company described the filing as “a proactive step to build a stronger foundation and future.”

Spirit CEO Dave Davis added, “We have evaluated every corner of our business and are proceeding with a comprehensive approach in which we will be far more strategic about our fleet, markets and opportunities.”

Spirit said in its restructuring material that it intends to “redesign its network” by focusing on key markets where it can provide more destinations, frequencies and enhanced connectivity, while reducing presence in marginal or underperforming stations.

The carrier has been buffeted by a series of financial and operational pressures, including geared turbofan (GTF) engine issues that have grounded part of its fleet, a weakened domestic demand environment and heavy debt burdens. Spirit reported a $245.8 million net loss in the second quarter of 2025, while acknowledging “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating without new liquidity.

At a Sept. 3 court hearing, Spirit secured approvals for its first-day motions, allowing it to continue paying employees, honoring tickets and loyalty points, and maintaining vendor relationships. “We are pleased to have reached this first milestone in our restructuring process, which will support normal operations as we take decisive action to ensure that Spirit continues delivering the best value in the sky for years to come,” Davis said.

The network reductions underscore the ULCC’s pivot toward consolidation in core markets. However, the retrenchment comes as rival Frontier Airlines is expanding further into Spirit territory, launching 20 new routes—18 of which overlap with Spirit’s existing or recent services. Frontier CEO Barry Biffle has said the carrier sees “a clear path to being the number one low-fare carrier in the top 20 U.S. metro areas.”

OAG Schedules Analyser data shows Spirit remains a major player in key hubs like Fort Lauderdale, where it controls nearly one-third of all capacity. However, Frontier’s expansion will increase head-to-head overlap between the ULCCs, which already compete on more than 100 routes.