Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday in a move that is not expected to impact any customers at Norfolk International Airport or nationwide — at least in the short term.
The company said in a news release that it will honor all tickets, credits and loyalty points and will continue to book and complete flights as normal. Spirit plans to continue service in Norfolk to and from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, through at least May 21, which is the furthest date they’re currently offering seats, according to Chris Jones, a spokesperson for NIA.
“In the near-term Spirit’s bankruptcy filing will not affect travelers at Norfolk International Airport,” Jones said in an email. “Whether or not there will be any ‘issues in the future’ is not something I’ll attempt to predict.”
Spirit is known for its yellow planes and low prices, and ranks as the seventh largest airline in the nation. It began operating out of Norfolk in March 2023, offering nonstop daily flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. It began offering flights to and from Richmond in 2018.
The bankruptcy was not a surprise to those in the industry, Jones added, citing the decision by a federal judge in January to block Spirit’s merger with JetBlue.
“Once the proposed merger with JetBlue was nixed at the federal level Spirit’s finances and declining stock price suggested to anyone who follows the industry that a bankruptcy filing was a strong possibility,” Jones said.
Going into this year, Spirit was offering routes from Norfolk to Boston, Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida but these didn’t perform well and were canceled “well before” the company filed for bankruptcy, according to Jones.
When Spirit announced the Orlando and Fort Lauderdale routes in March 2023, it was hailed as an exciting new opportunity.
“Spirit Airlines’ decision to enter southeastern Virginia via Norfolk International Airport is a sign of confidence in our region,” said Norfolk Airport Authority President and CEO Mark Perryman in October 2022. “Spirit’s new service from Norfolk to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, two of our largest markets, will be very well received within the community and we anticipate robust growth.”
Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com