- Discount carrier Spirit Airlines completely shut down operations on Saturday, becoming the first industry casualty linked to the Iran war, after failing to secure creditor support for a U.S. government bailout plan.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to give an update on recieving refunds and employees stranded by the immediate closure. “If you have a flight scheduled with Spirit Airlines, don’t show up at the airport; there will be no one here to assist you,” he said.
- “If you bought a ticket and hadn’t flown that ticket yet, the dollars you used to buy the ticket, those are held in reserve by Spirit Airlines so that money is there and so refunds will flow, we feel really comfortable that you will get a refund,” Duffy said when addressing reporters.
- Other airlines, including American Airlines, are offering assistance by flying stranded Spirit crew members home free of charge.
- American Airlines is also actively recruiting former Spirit employees and is uniquely positioned to help stranded passengers, as it serves nearly all the airports and routes previously operated by Spirit.
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