Rival Airlines Are Carving Up Spirit's Routes and Airport Slots

Budget carriers like Breeze, Allegiant and Frontier are swooping in on Spirit's former routes as well as circling its valuable takeoff and landing slots at bigger airports.

WSJ • May 17, 2026

Spirit's Big Fail: Oversized Planes Are Breaking Low-Cost Airlines

After Spirit Airlines vanished from the skies, its not-quite-sudden collapse raised questions about why the successful low-cost model, born in the U.S. airline industry, is failing.

Forbes • May 13, 2026

Spirit's exit lifts airfares, but budget model remains under pressure

The collapse of Spirit Airlines, one of the industry's fiercest discounters, has given U.S. budget carriers more room to lift fares, but its exit does little to fix ​the long-running strain on the cheap-flight model.

Reuters • May 11, 2026

Passengers on the Frontier flight that hit a person broke a key rule of airline evacuations

A Frontier Airlines plane struck a person on the runway at Denver Airport on Friday. Videos show passengers ignoring crew instructions to leave their bags on board.

Business Insider • May 11, 2026

Frontier Airlines plane suffers engine fire, reportedly hits pedestrian in Denver

A Frontier Airlines passenger jet ​abandoned its take-off for Los ‌Angeles late on Friday after suffering an engine fire and reportedly striking a ​pedestrian on the runway at Denver ​International Airport, the airline and the ⁠airport said.

Reuters • May 9, 2026

A Frontier Airlines flight reported it struck a pedestrian at Denver International Airport

A Frontier Airlines flight reported it struck a person at Denver International on Friday, the airport said. Denver International added that a "brief engine fire" was extinguished by firefighters at the scene.

Business Insider • May 9, 2026

Spirit Airlines grounding could help ease shortages in tight engine market

The recent grounding of U.S. budget carrier Spirit Airlines could help ease shortages of next-generation RTX spare engines needed ​to keep late-model Airbus single-aisle jets flying, industry executives and analysts say.

Reuters • May 8, 2026

Airfares skyrocket as much as 218% on Spirit Airlines' busiest routes within just 48 hours of its May 2 liquidation

A round-trip ticket from Las Vegas to Dallas-Fort Worth cost $39 on Spirit Airlines the morning of May 1.

24/7 Wall Street • May 7, 2026

This airline is the best bet to fill Spirit's void

Wall Street seems to have crowned Frontier Airlines as the main beneficiary of Spirit Airlines' demise — judging by the stock's 20% move higher this week. Markets also like that Frontier has enough liquidity to withstand the onslaught of rising jet-fuel prices.

Market Watch • May 6, 2026

Spirit Airlines Might Still Fly Had It Merged With Frontier, Ex-Exec Says

In 2022 Frontier Airlines wanted to merge with Spirit. A deal would have created a national low-fare airlines.

Forbes • May 6, 2026