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Travelers are unlikely to experience major disruptions as the Trump administration reportedly moves closer to a bailout for bankrupt Spirit Airlines, industry experts say.
Officials are discussing a roughly $500 million deal to help Spirit emerge from bankruptcy — an arrangement that could give the federal government up to 90% of the shares in the budget airline, Reuters reported.
The situation is not expected to impact summer travel plans for most Americans, according to aviation consultant Mike Boyd.
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Spirit Airlines aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on October 24, 2023. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Boyd noted, however, that there could be some uncertainty for passengers who have already booked with Spirit as the airline navigates the bankruptcy process.
“It will increase fares, not decrease them,” Coffield said, adding that a bailout could be unfair to other airlines. “They will also get capital with little risk until they lose everything and taxpayers’ money.”
Coffield, pointing to his role in crafting the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, argued that the government “should intervene only in the event of a national crisis or national interest.”
Coffield also said that if Spirit were to close, other airlines — including American, Southwest, United, JetBlue and Allegiant — would likely quickly fill the gap and hire displaced workers.
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Passengers check in for their Spirit Airlines flights at O’Hare Airport on March 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“If you can look historically, wherever there has been an airline that has cut service, within six months most of all those people are rehired in their original jobs wearing different uniforms,” Coffield said.
Gary Leff, author of the aviation blog “View From the Wing,” says keeping Spirit afloat could “weaken” competitors like Frontier Airlines and JetBlue.
Meanwhile, Clint Henderson, travel expert at “The Points Guy,” said consumers would “probably benefit” from Spirit staying in business.
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President Donald Trump is seen leaving Air Force One at Miami International Airport on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
The proposed financing would likely start as a loan to keep Spirit afloat during the bankruptcy and convert to longer-term financing after the bankruptcy.
A lawyer for the airline confirmed Thursday that it is in advanced talks with federal officials, Reuters reported.
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Reuters contributed to this report.
