If you had Spirit Airlines flights booked out of Nashville International Airport, it is time to make other plans. The budget carrier shut down all operations early Saturday morning, canceling every scheduled flight and leaving thousands of travelers scrambling.
Spirit announced it had no choice but to wind down immediately after a White House proposal to bail out the struggling airline fell through. The shutdown marks the first significant U.S. airline to halt operations in nearly 25 years.
Spirit had been flying out of BNA since 2019, offering some of the cheapest fares available in Nashville to cities like Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando, Baltimore, and others. The airline had been on the brink of liquidation after failing to reach a deal with bondholders for a $500 million government bailout from the Trump administration. Its collapse comes after two bankruptcies and a failed attempt to secure that government lifeline, making it the first death of a major U.S. airline in decades.
The final blow came from skyrocketing fuel costs. Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since the start of the war in Iran, derailing Spirit’s plans to emerge from bankruptcy.
President Trump had previously said he was weighing a taxpayer takeover of Spirit Airlines, with plans to resell the troubled carrier after oil prices decline, but no deal was finalized.
If You Have a Spirit Ticket
Spirit said it will automatically refund tickets purchased with a credit or debit card. Travelers who booked through a travel agent should contact that agent directly to request a refund. Anyone who paid with vouchers, credits, or Free Spirit loyalty points will have to wait, as that compensation will be worked out through the bankruptcy process.
Passengers will not be reimbursed for costs like emergency hotel stays unless covered by their travel insurance.
Other Airlines Are Stepping In
Several major carriers have announced measures to help displaced Spirit passengers. Southwest Airlines is capping domestic fares at $200 for trips up to 500 miles, $300 for up to 1,000 miles, and $400 for anything longer. Those fares are available at Southwest ticket counters. United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest have also agreed to cap ticket prices for Spirit customers who need to rebook.
What This Means for Nashville Travelers
With Spirit gone from BNA, budget travel options in Nashville get a little thinner. Experts expect fares to rise in markets where Spirit competed most aggressively, since that low-cost pressure will no longer exist. Nashville has been one of the fastest-growing travel markets in the country, and losing a budget carrier will likely push prices up on several popular routes.
If you are looking to rebook, check Southwest, Frontier, and other carriers operating out of BNA. The DOT and Secretary Duffy have urged airlines to keep fares reasonable for affected travelers.