Spirit Airlines cut dozens of routes as it withdraws from two major cities and cuts costs and simplifies its operations amid economic hardships.
On October 31, budget operators will end services on Minneapolis Street. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL), executives revealed in a note to staff watching TPG on Friday.
And, starting in November, the airline will suspend service on about 40 routes, accounting for about a quarter of its network.
The cuts came as the second Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring in less than a year in August and faced a desperate need to cut costs due to concerns about its financial prospects.
“Although we have previously reduced the presence of these airports, these decisions are still difficult and we are very grateful to our team members and partners at both radio stations,” Spirit chief commercial officer Rana Ghosh wrote to employees on Friday.
FAQ: Spirit Airlines bankruptcy and how it might affect your travel
Spirit operates in Hartford this fall, Detroit, Myrtle Beach, Nashville and Fort Lauderdale.
The operator has a smaller network, from MSP, which flies to Detroit and Atlanta.
The airline did not immediately share a complete list of routes planned to be trimmed from the November schedule.
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But the cuts came after airlines that had already been promoted on dozens of flights earlier this fall, and then warned of more cuts.
They were reportedly a few days later, the airline revealed that about one-third of the stewardesses were.
In a possible silver lining, Ghosh told the company Friday that the company does not expect to withdraw from any other airports in the near future.
It’s been a tumultuous year for the spirit, with two bankruptcy filings, major debt and attention to the future of ultra-low cost carriers.
Competitors noticed a shrinking flight schedule for the airline.
United Airlines and cheap competitor Frontier Airlines both added a number of routes this month.
And, JetBlue has greatly developed its footprint at the base of the Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Spirit, citing a sudden availability of gate space at the busy South Florida airport.
Spirit’s total flights in the fourth quarter of 2025 will be more than 20% lower than last year, even before the cuts outlined on Friday, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.
In a note to employees on Friday, executives listed the “necessary changes” the company made for “the best location for future airlines.”
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