Is Spirit Airlines shutdown driving up airfares? Here's what to know

Airfares were already climbing before Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, and travelers should expect higher prices through the summer. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Spirit’s largest hub, is feeling the squeeze as other carriers move to fill the void.

FULL STORY: Does it cost more to fly after Spirit Airlines shut down? ‘Upward pressure’

Here are key takeaways:

• Round-trip U.S. airfare between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends is 27% higher than last year, according to Points Path and The Points Guy.
• The average one-way domestic fare to FLL was $280 on May 11, up from $257 on April 27 and well above the $210 seen on May 11, 2025, according to travel site Kayak.
• Spirit accounted for about 28% of FLL passengers in 2025 and employed more than 2,500 people at the airport. Its headquarters was in nearby Dania Beach.
• JetBlue plans nearly 130 daily departures at FLL this summer — a 75% increase from last summer — while Breeze and Allegiant are also adding routes. Broward Mayor Mark Bogen said United, American and Delta have also reached out.
• Consumer advocate Chris Elliott warns more carriers could fail if fuel prices stay high. He recommends booking with a credit card, avoiding long-term bookings on at-risk airlines and booking directly with carriers rather than online travel agents.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.