Spirit Airlines Shuts Down, Leaving 16 Las Vegas Routes Without Its Service

The ultralow-cost carrier, once Reid Airport's second-largest airline, went out of business after 34 years and a second bankruptcy filing.

Spirit Airlines ceased all operations effective 12:00 a.m. Saturday, shutting down 16 direct markets it had served from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Clark County Department of Aviation officials confirmed that every one of those routes is currently served by at least one other airline, and the airport remains fully operational. The shutdown ends 34 years of service from the West Palm Beach-based ultralow-cost carrier.

Spirit's Collapse at Reid Airport

Until last year, Spirit had been the second busiest air carrier at Reid Airport, serving markets including Reno, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston. The airline fell out of the airport's top five carrier rankings last October, and in the first three months of 2026, Spirit's passenger count at Reid Airport was down 72 percent. Its bankruptcy reorganization had already caused its overall passenger count to decline 42 percent in 2025 to 4.6 million passengers.

The airline, known for its bright yellow planes, once operated hundreds of daily flights and employed about 17,000 people. In announcing the shutdown, Spirit said it had 'started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.' The company's website confirmed all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.

What Passengers Should Do Now

Reid Airport advised passengers to contact their booking provider if their ticket was purchased through a third party, or to reach out to their credit card issuer to inquire about refunds. The airport also encouraged travelers to contact other airlines serving their destination to explore rebooking options. Airport customer service staff are available on site to assist passengers in the terminal.

Southwest Airlines, Reid Airport's largest carrier, said customers holding Spirit reservations can access special fares at Southwest ticket counters at their departure airport. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said travelers booked on Spirit flights could access special prices on a group of other airlines for a limited time, and that other carriers would help Spirit pilots and flight attendants return to their home cities. Duffy also advised travelers to check with their credit card company or travel insurance policy about refunds.

A Bailout That Never Came

The Trump administration had considered a government bailout for Spirit to keep it from going under, but a deal was not reached. As late as Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump said that 'we're looking at it' and had given the carrier a 'final proposal' for a taxpayer-funded takeover. The effort ultimately failed.

Spirit had struggled financially since the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed down by rising operating costs and growing debt. By the time it filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024, Spirit had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020. The airline's second bankruptcy filing in less than two years came as jet fuel prices soared because of the Iran war. In its shutdown statement, Spirit said, 'We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come.'

What we know

• Spirit Airlines ceased all operations effective 12:00 a.m. Saturday.
• Spirit served 16 direct markets from Harry Reid International Airport, all of which are currently served by at least one other airline.
• Spirit had been Reid Airport's second-largest carrier until last year, when it fell out of the top five rankings in October.
• Spirit's passenger count at Reid Airport was down 72 percent in the first three months of 2026.
• Spirit's overall passenger count declined 42 percent in 2025 to 4.6 million passengers.
• Spirit had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020 and filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024.
• Southwest Airlines said customers holding Spirit reservations can access special fares at Southwest ticket counters.
• The Trump administration considered a government bailout for Spirit but did not reach a deal.

The take

Spirit's collapse is the most significant failure in the ultralow-cost carrier segment since the model took hold in the United States in the 1990s. Airlines like Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant built their businesses around stripping fares to bare minimums and charging for every add-on, a formula that worked well when fuel was cheap and leisure travel was booming. The pandemic broke that math. Spirit entered COVID-19 with a cost structure that depended on high seat utilization and thin margins, and it never fully recovered. A second Chapter 11 filing in less than two years is a textbook sign of a reorganization that failed to address underlying structural problems rather than just near-term liquidity. For Las Vegas specifically, the loss of a major ultralow-cost carrier is worth watching. Reid Airport has historically benefited from budget carriers driving incremental leisure traffic that legacy and hybrid carriers do not always serve at comparable price points. The fact that all 16 Spirit routes are covered by at least one other airline provides short-term continuity, but coverage and price competition are different things. Markets where Spirit was the only low-fare option may see fare pressure ease upward. Southwest's move to offer special fares to displaced Spirit passengers is a standard competitive response in these situations and reflects the carrier's long-standing positioning as the accessible-fare alternative at Reid.

Why it matters

Las Vegas is one of the most fare-sensitive leisure markets in the country, and ultralow-cost carriers have historically played an outsized role in keeping ticket prices competitive on routes into Reid Airport. Spirit's exit removes a pricing anchor on 16 routes. Even with other airlines maintaining service, travelers who relied on Spirit's stripped-down fares may find their options more expensive going forward. The shutdown also leaves roughly 17,000 employees without jobs, adding a significant labor dimension to what is already one of the largest airline failures in recent U.S. history.

What’s next

Passengers holding Spirit tickets should contact their booking provider, credit card issuer, or travel insurance carrier about refunds. Southwest Airlines is offering special fares at ticket counters for Spirit customers. Transportation Secretary Duffy indicated that a group of other airlines would offer special pricing for a limited time. Reid Airport customer service staff remain available on site to assist travelers in the terminal.

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