Spirit Airlines’ Sudden Route Shakedown: What’s Behind the Curtain of This Alarming Retreat?
So, Spirit Airlines is taking a steep nosedive out of two bustling hubs—Minneapolis-St. Paul and Hartford—and slashing nearly a quarter of its routes starting this November. With bankruptcy looming for the second time in under a year and an urgent need to tighten the financial belt, this budget carrier’s moves might leave some wondering: Can ultra-low-cost flying survive such harsh weather? It’s a sobering pivot in a turbulent year marked by cuts, furloughs, and fierce competition sneaking into the void Spirit’s retreat creates. Yet, amidst the chaos, there’s a glimmer—a promise of no further airport exits on the immediate horizon. For travelers and industry watchers alike, this shakeup raises an essential question: How will Spirit’s shakeout reshape the skies we navigate next? LEARN MORE
Spirit Airlines is pulling out of two major cities and slashing dozens of routes as it works to cut costs and simplify its operations amid financial woes.
On Oct. 31, the budget carrier will end service from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL), executives revealed Friday in a note to staff viewed by TPG.
And, starting in November the airline will suspend service on around 40 routes — about a quarter of its network.
Those cuts that had been expected after the company in August entered chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring for the second time in less than a year, and faced an immediate need to cut costs as concerns swirl about its financial outlook.
“While we previously reduced our presence at these airports, these decisions were still difficult, and we are incredibly grateful for our team members and partners at both stations,” Spirit Chief Commercial Officer Rana Ghosh wrote to employees Friday.
FAQ: Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy and how it might affect your travel
Spirit currently operates in Hartford with nonstop service this fall to Detroit, Myrtle Beach, Nashville and Fort Lauderdale.
The carrier has a smaller network out of MSP, where it flies to Detroit and Atlanta.
The airline did not immediately share the full list of routes it planned to trim from its schedule in November.
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But those cutbacks come after the airline already axed close to a dozen flights earlier this fall, before warning more cutbacks would be coming.
They also come just days afte the airline revealed it would furlough about a third of its flight attendants, reports said.
In a possible silver lining, Ghosh on Friday told the company that the carrier did not expect exit any additional airports in the near future.
It’s been a tumultuous year for Spirit, with two bankruptcy filings, significant debt and mounting concerns about the ultra-low-cost carrier’s future.
Competitors have taken notice of the airline’s shrinking flying schedule.
United Airlines and top budget competitor Frontier Airlines have both added a host of routes this month currently served by Spirit.
And, JetBlue has significantly grown its footprint at Spirit’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) home base, citing suddenly-available gate space at the busy South Florida airport.
Even prior to the cuts outlined Friday, Spirit’s total number of flights during the fourth quarter of 2025 were set to be down by more than 20% over last year, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
In Friday’s note to staff, executives cited “necessary changes” the company had made to “best position our airline for the future.”
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