Emma Peasley

Then, the no side.

How legacy airlines beat Spirit at their own game and sent many budget airlines into a tailspin.

Just last week, the federal government said it may step in to bail out the budget airline.

Back in 2014, Zoe Chase and Jacob Goldstein noticed Spirit was the fastest growing airline in America and also one of the most hated.

So they decided to book a ticket.

Ben Baldanza died in 2024.

He is widely credited as leading Spirit during a period where the airline changed the whole industry, pressuring carriers to lower fares.

So how did it all go so wrong for Spirit and other budget airlines?

The story is so much more than high fuel prices.

After the break, the revenge of legacy carriers and the new talk of a government bailout.

Okay, welcome, Greg Rozalski, our resident newsletter writer.

So you've been talking to airline industry experts, and you have some answers for us.

Play has taken off.

Okay, so let's start with reviewing the trajectory of Spirit Airlines through a few headlines that we've seen in the past week or so.

So I'm going to read a couple for you.

Spirit Airlines looked like it was in the clear, but rising fuel costs are threatening its bankruptcy exit.

Spirit floats government stake to avoid possible liquidation.

Spirit Airlines close to 500 million bailout from Trump administration.

Spirit Airlines could be used to transport troops, military cargo, if Trump admin takes over bankrupt carrier.

And then this clever Wall Street Journal editorial, a dispiriting airline bailout.