-
- Spirit Airlines
About Spirit Airlines
Important Notice — Spirit Airlines Has Ceased Operations (May 2026): Spirit Airlines announced on May 2, 2026 that it is going out of business after 34 years of operation. The ultra-low-cost carrier — known for its bright yellow aircraft and deep discount fares — stated it could no longer sustain operations after being unable to manage escalating fuel costs and mounting financial pressures following its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in August 2025. All Spirit Airlines flights have been discontinued. Former Spirit Airlines passengers with outstanding tickets, refunds, or travel credits should contact their credit card company to dispute charges and file refund claims immediately.
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (IATA: NK) was a U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) founded in 1983 and headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida — a city in Broward County situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Originally founded as Charter One Airlines in Eastpointe, Michigan, the airline rebranded as Spirit Airlines in 1992 and relocated its headquarters to Miramar, Florida in December 1999. At its peak, Spirit operated more than 200 Airbus aircraft serving over 90 destinations across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, serving millions of passengers annually with ultra-low base fares supplemented by à la carte fees for bags, seat selection, and onboard services. Spirit pioneered the unbundled fare model in U.S. aviation that has since been adopted by all major legacy and low-cost carriers in various forms. In April 2024, Spirit opened its newly built $250 million “Spirit Central” corporate campus at 1731 Radiant Drive in Dania Beach’s Dania Pointe development — a sprawling 11-acre, four-building campus designed to house 1,000+ employees — just months before the airline’s financial situation began its final deterioration.
Spirit’s collapse came after a series of compounding failures: the Department of Justice successfully blocked Spirit’s proposed $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue in early 2024, leaving the airline without a path to financial recovery. Spirit filed its first Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 18, 2024, emerged in early 2025 under CEO Ted Christie, then filed a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2025 under CEO Dave Davis with plans to cut capacity by 25% and cancel dozens of routes. The airline ultimately could not overcome the combination of high fuel costs, intense competition from legacy carriers, and an unsustainable cost structure, announcing a complete wind-down of operations on May 2, 2026.
Quick Information
Industry
Ultra-Low-Cost Commercial Airline (ULCC) — Ceased Operations May 2026
Founded
1983, Eastpointe (East Detroit), Michigan
IATA Code
NK
Final Headquarters
1731 Radiant Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004
Previous Headquarters
2800 Executive Way, Miramar, Florida 33025 (1999–2024)
Final CEO
Dave Davis (President & CEO at time of final bankruptcy and wind-down)
Website
spirit.com (may remain active for wind-down and refund processing)
Products & Services
At the time of its operations, Spirit Airlines offered a comprehensive ultra-low-cost travel product built around an unbundled fare model — the lowest possible base fare supplemented by optional à la carte fees — giving price-sensitive travelers maximum control over what they paid for. Their full range of products and services included:
- Base Fare (Bare Fare) — Spirit’s signature ultra-low base ticket price covering transportation only with no bags, seat selection, or onboard amenities included
- Carry-On & Checked Baggage — optional add-on fees for carry-on bags placed in overhead bins and checked luggage; Spirit’s fee-for-bag model became the template adopted by most U.S. airlines
- Seat Selection — optional upgrades including Big Front Seat (a first-class-equivalent seat without first-class service), preferred seats near the front of the cabin, and standard seat selection
- Spirit Saver$ Club — Spirit’s membership program offering significantly discounted fares, bag fees, and seat fees for a flat annual subscription fee
- Free Spirit Loyalty Program — Spirit’s frequent flyer points program allowing members to earn and redeem points for flights and extras
- Shortcut Boarding & Security — fee-based priority boarding and expedited security lane access
- Onboard Food & Beverage — à la carte snacks and beverages available for purchase onboard; no complimentary service
- Spirit Vacations — vacation packages combining Spirit flights with hotels and car rentals
- Domestic Routes — Spirit served all major U.S. metropolitan markets with a dense route network concentrated in Florida, the Northeast, the Southwest, and the Midwest
- International Routes — Caribbean and Latin America destinations including Cancún, Punta Cana, Bogotá, Medellín, Lima, Santo Domingo, San José, and numerous other leisure destinations
Corporate Phone Numbers
Main Customer Service Number (Historical)
1-801-401-2222 — Spirit Airlines’ official customer service phone number, used for reservations, flight changes, cancellations, baggage claims, and general support. Given the airline’s May 2026 shutdown, this line may be active for refund and wind-down inquiries but availability cannot be guaranteed.
Corporate Headquarters Phone (Historical)
(954) 447-7920 — Spirit Airlines corporate office phone number at 1731 Radiant Drive, Dania Beach, Florida. May remain active during wind-down.
⚠️ Important Note for Former Spirit Customers: Given Spirit Airlines’ full operational shutdown announced May 2, 2026, customers with outstanding refund claims, unused tickets, or travel credits should contact their credit card issuer immediately to initiate chargebacks. Do not rely solely on Spirit Airlines customer service channels, which may have limited availability during the wind-down process.
How to Reach Spirit Airlines During Wind-Down
Following Spirit Airlines’ May 2, 2026 announcement of a complete shutdown, the primary recommended actions for affected customers are:
Contact Your Credit Card Company
Call the customer service number on the back of the credit or debit card used to purchase your Spirit Airlines ticket. Request a chargeback for services not rendered (canceled flights). Most major credit card issuers — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover — have well-established dispute processes for airline shutdowns. Chargebacks can typically be initiated within 60 to 120 days of the charge date depending on your card issuer.
Monitor spirit.com for Refund Instructions
Spirit Airlines’ website may remain active during the wind-down process with instructions for obtaining refunds, processing travel credits, or filing claims. Check spirit.com regularly for official announcements regarding the refund and claims process.
File a Claim With the Bankruptcy Court
If Spirit Airlines is proceeding through a formal bankruptcy liquidation, unsecured creditors — including passengers with unused ticket value — may be able to file a proof of claim with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, where Spirit’s Chapter 11 proceedings were handled.
Spirit Airlines Headquarters & Corporate Office Address
Spirit Airlines’ final corporate headquarters was located at Spirit Central — 1731 Radiant Drive in the Dania Pointe mixed-use development in Dania Beach, Broward County, Florida. The Spirit Central campus officially opened on April 18, 2024, representing a $250 million investment and spanning more than 11 acres with four buildings including a corporate support center, an amenity building, a crew training facility with full-motion flight simulators, and a corporate housing facility. The campus was designed to house more than 1,000 Spirit employees and to serve as the airline’s home for decades. Its opening came less than seven months before Spirit’s first bankruptcy filing in November 2024. Before moving to Dania Beach, Spirit had been headquartered at 2800 Executive Way in Miramar, Florida since December 1999.
Spirit Airlines, Inc. — Final Corporate Headquarters (Spirit Central)
1731 Radiant Drive
Dania Beach, Florida 33004
United States
Spirit Airlines, Inc. — Previous Corporate Headquarters (Miramar)
2800 Executive Way
Miramar, Florida 33025
United States
How to File a Complaint or Refund Claim Against Spirit Airlines
Step 1 — Contact Your Credit Card Issuer Immediately
The most effective and fastest path to recovery for former Spirit Airlines customers is to call the credit or debit card issuer used for the purchase and initiate a chargeback for services not rendered. Chargebacks are the consumer’s most powerful tool in an airline shutdown scenario and typically result in a full refund within 5 to 10 business days.
Step 2 — File a Complaint With the DOT
File a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division at transportation.gov/airconsumer or by calling 1-202-366-2220. The DOT has authority over airline consumer protection and monitors airline refund compliance even during bankruptcy and wind-down proceedings.
Step 3 — File a Claim With the Bankruptcy Court
Monitor the docket at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (where Spirit’s proceedings were filed) for information on the claims process for passengers with unused ticket value or unresolved disputes. A proof of claim form must be filed before the court-established claims bar date.
Step 4 — File a BBB Complaint
File a public complaint with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org for documentation purposes and to add to the public record of consumer harm.
Step 5 — File a Complaint With the FTC
For complaints involving deceptive billing, failure to issue refunds, or unfair trade practices, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Step 6 — Contact Your State Attorney General
File a complaint with your state Attorney General’s consumer protection office, particularly if Spirit Airlines failed to issue timely refunds for canceled flights under DOT’s 7-business-day refund rule. Multiple state AGs actively pursue airline consumer protection enforcement.
