The bright yellow, banana flavored planes that were once regarded as eyesores against the sky have officially made their final landing in Dallas, Texas. Spirit Airlines shut down all flights, cancelling and refunding booked flights as well, on May 2, 2026. Ever since Covid-19, Spirit has been financially struggling to maintain their low cost fares. Unfortunately, this seems to have been their final act as Spirit was seen recalling their planes from airports.
Spirit was praised for and known for its features when traveling. You would have the option of buying “unbundled” fares, which meant you only had to pay for the stuff you wanted. Essentially, you could choose not to pay for any checked baggage and just use carry-on, saving you a lot of money. Spirit Airlines also made it possible to travel across the U.S with nothing but clothes on your back, as that was a very affordable option. Even though Spirit had smaller seats when compared to other carriers, this was a minor inconvenience if it meant not having to spend 3 times as much on a Delta flight. Like many other companies, Spirit Airlines failed due to the economics of the US that drastically changed in the past 5 years. Tariffs increased the prices of their parts and fuel costs rose uncontrollably. In a last ditch effort to combine forces with JetBlue, another low-cost airline, they failed after Congress denied the merger due to a high threat of the monopolization of air travel.
After Spirit stated that they had shut down, an online movement called “Let’s Buy Spirit” has taken social media by storm, first trending as a TikTok campaign started by TikTok creator Hunter Peterson. The project proposes an “owned by the people” company, where supporters are currently able to pledge money to buy the airline’s assets and relaunch it as “Spirit 2.0.” While many are skeptical about the costs, legalities, and whether this whole thing may be some kind of rugpull, the campaign has already seen over 300 million dollars in pledges, which means it isn’t guaranteed that the people follow up with their payments, from thousands of fans who want to keep their second sun in the sky.
Along with the media, we say a special thank you to the thousands of pilots, flight attendants, and ground crews who worked hard to keep the airborne Laffy Taffys moving. They helped college students travel to and from their homes during breaks, families went on vacations they weren’t affordable in comparison to other carriers. Spirit’s downfall may give other companies a chance to utilize more neutral colors, as people won’t have a good comparison to judge them by. The runways will always look a lot less friendly without these Banana Planes resting at the gates. All respect to the company who didn’t just care for their customers, but their budgets as well.
R.I.P Spirit Airlines (1992–2026) 🫡
