Romulus ― Caught unaware of Spirit Airlines’ shutdown, some would-be flyers were stranded Saturday morning at Detroit Metro Airport.
The discount carrier had warned it might cease operation, and the Wayne County Airport Authority asked Spirit flyers not to go to the Romulus airport, but not everyone got the messages.
Several people were left scrambling for answers at the airport Saturday, suggesting others had already rebooked or canceled.
Ellie Kim said she flew from New York for her younger brother’s graduation at the University of Michigan. She flew in on Spirit, but was notified that her return flight could not be booked through the airline.
“It was frustrating, because they wouldn’t let me rebook the flight easily,” she said. “I had to cancel the whole thing, book my flight in on Spirit and then the return on another airline.”
Ashantae Thornton, a Detroit resident, said she was very frustrated and angry with Spirit’s closure.
“I’m trying to rebook a ticket early before all other flight tickets go up,” she said. “We don’t want to fly Frontier.”
Asked what she wished she had done differently, Thornton said with a laugh that she wished “Trump had just helped them out.”
Brittany McGee, a Detroit resident, said she and eight members of her family were flying to Long Beach, California, for a Carnival cruise.
McGee said she booked her ticket months ago, but her mother, Sabrina Hodges, came to the airport yesterday to book hers. McGee and Hodges both said Spirit employees let people book a flight the day before the shutdown.
They said they were both frequent flyers of Spirit, which provided an affordable option for them. Now, they were worried about other airlines raising prices.
“Spirit was keeping everyone in check,” McGee said. “If there’s no affordable option, no one’s going to be flying.”
Bailout attempt fails
Spirit Airlines shut down after failing to secure a $500 million government bailout, with disagreements among federal officials and bondholders derailing a last-ditch funding effort. The airline has spent a prolonged stretch in Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid heavy debt and years of losses.
President Donald Trump said last month his administration was looking to buy the embattled carrier at the “right price.”
Four people familiar with the matter confirmed a Wall Street Journal report that Spirit is preparing to cease operations after hitting an impasse in talks with some creditors on a $500 million government bailout plan. The Journal said Spirit was expected to cease operations around 3 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.
A company spokesperson declined to comment Friday on ongoing discussions and said Spirit was operating as usual.
At Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Spirit ranks as the No. 2 airline by flights, carrying about 1.7 million passengers in 2025.
‘If you have a flight, you’re in trouble’
David Fishman, owner of Cadillac Travel Group in Royal Oak, said Friday that if the airline shut down, travelers who bought Spirit tickets with a credit card might be able to recoup the costs, but those who paid in cash would likely struggle to get money back.
He recommended reaching out to other airlines about alternative flights and said some might offer discounts for affected travelers for a limited time. “If you have a flight, you’re in trouble,” Fishman said. “The other airlines may help out in terms of discounts on flights going to the same destination.”
A collapse of the budget carrier would likely lead to immediate price increases — especially on routes where Spirit has historically undercut competitors, industry analysts said.
“Fares would likely rise, especially on routes where Spirit keeps prices low by competing aggressively,” said Selim Ozyurek, assistant professor at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation. “Smaller or leisure-focused airports could lose service altogether. It means fewer choices and higher prices for travelers, and less competition and higher prices for the airlines.”
The loss of service could also hit smaller or leisure-focused destinations hardest, reducing nonstop options and forcing longer or more expensive itineraries.
Travelers had expressed surprise, worry
Travelers were already reacting to the uncertainty around Spirit on Friday. Some passengers said they were hesitant to book future flights, worried about cancellations or getting stranded if operations cease.
Spirit flyers at the airport in Romulus on Friday afternoon expressed surprise and worry after hearing that the budget airlines could halt operations.
“Now I’m worried,” said Taylor Gonzales, a 27-year-old Clinton Township social worker, after getting the tag for her suitcase to fly to Los Angeles to see family.
Without Spirit, airlines are expected to move quickly to fill any gap. Analysts said legacy carriers, such as Delta and American, would likely add flights, while other low-cost competitors could expand routes. Airport officials and analysts say a major hub like Detroit would eventually stabilize, but not without short-term disruption and higher costs for consumers.
Spirit employs thousands nationwide and maintains a large maintenance hangar at Detroit Metro, tying its operations directly to local jobs and airport infrastructure.
The Wayne County Airport Authority said any questions pertaining to Spirit Flights may be addressed by visiting here.
satwood@detroitnews.com
Staff Writer Breana Noble contributed.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Spirit Airlines shutdown strands would-be flyers at Detroit Metro Airport
Reporting by Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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