Trump administration blames Biden for Spirit Airlines downfall because it cancels ALL flights instantly and the president steps in to assist stranded flyers

The Trump administration has blamed Spirit Airlines’ demise on former President Joe Biden after the airline canceled all flights in the middle of the night.

Spirit has endured a tumultuous ride since it became the pioneer of budget airlines 33 years ago.

The airline filed for bankruptcy twice, and an attempt to merge with JetBlue failed in 2024 after the Justice Department under the Biden administration blocked the multi-billion-dollar merger.

Hours after Spirit ceased operation on Saturday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the airline’s downfall on the Justice Department’s decision, writing in a statement: ‘Yet another mess the traveling public has to inherit thanks to the radical policies of Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg.

‘In blocking the Jetblue/Spirit merger in 2024, they turned their backs on the American consumer and our great aviation workforce,’ he continued.

‘Regardless of how we got here, the Trump Administration is committed to taking care of you and your family when you fly. In a matter of hours, we’ve activated our airline partners to ensure passengers are not stranded, communities maintain route access, fares do not skyrocket, and Spirit’s workforce is connected to new job opportunities.’

He reiterated comments speaking to reporters at Newark Airport in New Jersey on Saturday morning.

Spirit announced just before 3am on Saturday that the airline would start ‘winding down its global operations, effective immediately.’

The airline said that, in addition to canceling all flights, customer service would no longer be available, passengers would not be able to rebook with another airline, and refunds would be processed automatically.

‘We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry for the last 33 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,’ the airline added in the 2.45am statement Saturday. 

Duffy said that following conversations with the Department of Transportation, multiple airlines have announced that they would offer assistance to passengers scheduled to fly Spirit. 

Frontier said on Friday that they were preparing to help impacted passengers ‘with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low-fare options.’ 

JetBlue also announced on Friday that it would help passengers who were affected by the news. 

Since stranded passengers may be forced to book with higher-budget airlines, the DOT has said that ticket prices will be capped for Spirit customers for flights on United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest. 

The fares will only be available for a limited time. JetBlue and Southwest are offering reduced costs for the next 72 hours. 

Customers looking to book with Southwest will have to purchase their new ticket in person at an airport. 

Delta is offering capped ticket prices for the next five days, while travelers can purchase seats with United for the next two weeks. 

Spirit’s update has not only caused a headache for customers scrambling for alternative travel plans but also left thousands without jobs. 

About an hour before the official announcement, the Association of Flight Attendants notified its members that the airline would cease operations at 3am EST, CNN reported. 

The AFA has set up a resource page for Spirit flight attendants who are now out of a job. 

American Airlines and United are also creating microsites for Spirit employees seeking new positions. 

Spirit’s staff, including flight attendants and pilots in need of a way home, are set to receive travel pass benefits and spare jump seats from most major US carriers, according to the DOT. 

Desperate attempts to save Spirit 

Spirit’s last flight comes after a long battle to save the budget airline. The company has struggled to churn a profit since the pandemic, when travel restrictions were put in place. 

Even after restrictions were lifted, travel took a backseat as many Americans faced financial hardship amid a crumbling economy. 

Larger airlines were able to bounce back by cutting flights and increasing costs, but Spirit’s reputation for low-budget travel prevented it from doing the same. 

The company started bleeding money, losing over $2.5 billion from 2020 to 2024. They reported a negative free cash flow of $1 billion at the end of the second quarter in 2025.  

JetBlue and Spirit reached a merger agreement in 2024 valued at $3.8 billion, but the Justice Department blocked the deal. 

The department sued to stop the merger, arguing that it would reduce competition and drive up fares. Spirit then filed for bankruptcy again in August 2025. 

The Trump administration had previously been in talks to save the airline in bankruptcy court. 

The president said on Friday that he was ‘looking’ at a deal and a final proposal was given. 

However, a source familiar with the negotiations told CNN that a key group of creditors rejected the plan because it would have given the government a majority control of Spirit’s shares. 

Dave Davis, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement that an agreement was reached in March, but rising fuel prices prompted the company to disband.

‘Sustaining the business required hundreds of millions of additional dollars of liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could not procure. This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted,’ Davis said. 

The AFA had initiated a campaign to save the airline. The union shared several flight attendants’ stories on Friday to advocate for a deal. 

Darlene, a flight attendant with Spirit for four years, said being a flight attendant allowed her to support her household and care for her 81-year-old mom. 

‘Every flight, I try to make a real impact; whether that’s helping a nervous passenger feel safe, creating a moment of joy for someone who needs it, or just showing up for my crew on long, challenging days,’ she said. 

‘Spirit Airlines provides opportunities for people like me to build a life, support our families, and serve communities that rely on affordable travel.’ 

Spirit’s greatest hits 

Spirit broke the mold for air travel, emerging over three decades ago as a pioneer for low-cost fares.

Its existence paved the way for people to book trips who otherwise may not have been able to afford travel.

However, its low-cost prices, infamous yellow branding and the outlandish behavior that often occurred on Spirit flights became synonymous with the airline. 

In 2020, Spirit passengers made headlines when three Philadelphia women were caught on camera throwing phones, shoes, water bottles and even fast food at airline staff. 

In March of 2025, a video went viral of a female flyer named Rachel being dragged away from the airline’s desk after she was removed from a flight before boarding. 

During the incident, which took place on August 30, 2023, authorities quickly grabbed Rachel as she repeatedly screamed: ‘Take me to jail! Take me to jail!,’ before falling to the floor. Officers then tackled and handcuffed her as she continued to shriek.

Another woman went viral that same year for recording a video that appeared to show an employee applying tape to the aircraft’s wing before takeoff.  

In 2024, two women made headlines after they claimed they were kicked off their Spirit flight by a male flight attendant for wearing crop tops. 

Teresa and Tara told the Daily Mail at the time that they were told to ‘cover up’ after taking off their sweaters on the plane. 

The airline also took heat for introducing a dress code last year that banned trashy looks. 

The rule dictated that a guest ‘shall not be permitted to board the aircraft’ if they are ‘barefoot or inadequately clothed.’

Among the examples of inappropriate travel outfits included were: see-through clothing, exposed breasts, buttocks, or other private parts; lewd, obscene, or offensive clothing and tattoos. 

The regulation came after multiple instances of passengers wearing inappropriate attire.  

Another instance of a bizarre interaction on a Spirit flight was in July, when a 16-year-old went viral after he made a ‘bomb’ joke referring to his ‘masculinity,‘ prompting a police response on the flight.