{"id":91548,"date":"2026-05-06T14:01:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/spirit-airlines-is-gone-will-a-big-airfare-spike-be-next\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:01:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:01:28","slug":"spirit-airlines-is-gone-will-a-big-airfare-spike-be-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/spirit-airlines-is-gone-will-a-big-airfare-spike-be-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Spirit Airlines is gone. Will a big airfare spike be next?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Spirit Airlines’ planes are grounded<\/span>, and its former competitors are swooping in<\/span> to take over routes it used to fly.<\/p>\n

Now, the big question: What price will consumers ultimately pay?<\/p>\n

After all, you likely benefitted from Spirit’s presence \u2014 even if you never set foot on one of its big yellow planes, sipped one of its signature BuzzBallz cocktails, or cared much for the bare bones fare, add-on fee model that once earned it the “bus with wings” moniker.<\/p>\n

The airline long served as a key layer of competition in a heavily consolidated, top-heavy airline industry, helping to keep fares in check at the big carriers.<\/p>\n

Now, it’s gone. And experts have already warned that travelers’ wallets could ultimately feel the void.<\/p>\n

“Without [its] competitive presence, prices are likely to rise,” Kerry Tan, airfare expert on the faculty at Loyola University in Maryland, said.<\/p>\n

The price impact may not be immediate<\/h2>\n

Now, I do want to keep things in perspective: We’re certainly not likely to see flight prices immediately shoot up dramatically across the whole country as a result of Spirit’s demise.<\/p>\n

For one, the Florida-based airline had been shrinking its national footprint<\/span> for months prior to the shutdown, pulling out of cities and cutting routes as its finances deteriorated.<\/p>\n

In February, Spirit’s share of the U.S. market was nearly 25% smaller than it was the year prior, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.<\/p>\n

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This is to say, Spirit was already a lot less of a factor at airports.<\/p>\n

Read more: Spirit refunds ‘most’ passengers, but points and vouchers in major jeopardy<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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ZACH GRIFF\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And, despite its exit, there is<\/em> still competition at the discount end of the airfare spectrum \u2013 and those airlines are making moves.<\/p>\n

Frontier \u2014 along with JetBlue, Allegiant Air and relative newcomer Breeze Airways \u2014 has moved quickly to add service in some former Spirit stronghold cities like Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.<\/p>\n

Low-cost airlines will still have a presence at U.S. airports, however diminished.<\/p>\n

And travelers hoping for discounted fares will likely be rooting for those carriers to keep the pressure on their larger rivals.<\/p>\n

Related: Had elite status with Spirit? These airlines are offering a status match<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Consumer concerns<\/h2>\n

Make no mistake, though: The end of Spirit is not a positive development for consumers.<\/p>\n

Historically, the airline’s exit from markets has led to higher ticket prices.<\/p>\n

Our friends at Thrifty Traveler shared a sobering example last month<\/span>, noting that when Spirit pulled out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) late last year, average fares doubled on routes it vacated.<\/p>\n

So which cities should you watch for fare increases?<\/p>\n

According to Cirium data, Spirit last year was the biggest challenger to the dominant top carrier at a handful of major hubs, including:<\/p>\n