Spirit Airlines, 1990 – 2026

Florida-based budget Spirit Airlines shut its operations on May 2. Cause of death is said to be high fuel prices due to the US war on Iran. Spirit was founded as Clippert Trucking Company in 1964, took to the air as Charter One Airlines in 1990, changing its name to Spirit in ’92. It had gone through frequent FAA and financial problems, though it was known for reliable on-time arrivals, safety, and low prices (though they were the first US airline to charge for carry-on bags). Covid hit Spirit hard (as it did all airlines), and filed for bankruptcy several times in the last few years. Spirit said in a statement to the press, “Unfortunately, despite the Company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook. All flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available.”