Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy amid growing losses and debt

Summary

Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing mounting losses, debt, and the failure of its proposed $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue.

Operations, including ticket sales, will continue as normal, with the airline securing $300 million in financing and planning to exit bankruptcy by early 2025.

Spirit has also arranged a $350 million equity investment from bondholders.

Struggling since the pandemic, Spirit deferred $1.1 billion in debt, faced an engine recall, and announced cost-cutting measures, including job cuts and selling older planes.