‘Quite annoyed’: Spirit shutdown leaves travelers at PHL and AC scrambling

Empty check-in counters and frustrated passengers filled PHL and Atlantic City International Airport after Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down operations, canceling all flights nationwide.

Travelers were left scrambling for solutions, especially in Atlantic City International Airport, where Spirit has been a major presence for nearly 30 years. From January to March alone, about 75% of the airport’s passengers flew Spirit.

“I’m quite annoyed,” one traveler said.

“I want to go home now,” another added.

In Atlantic City, exhaustion was setting in for some.

“Tired. Been up all night,” a passenger said.

The struggling budget airline cited rising oil prices as the reason for its shutdown.

“With no additional funding available to the Company, Spirit had no choice but to begin this wind-down,” the company said in a statement.

Passengers expressed uncertainty about their next steps.

“We don’t know what we are going to do at this point,” one traveler said.

Spirit said it will automatically process refunds for flights purchased directly with a credit or debit card. For indirect bookings, customers are advised to contact their travel agent. The airline is also directing travelers to spiritrestructuring.com for more information.

Major airlines are stepping in to help, offering special fares and support for stranded Spirit customers.

“This is the airline industry stepping up and trying to provide relief,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

At Philadelphia International Airport, Spirit had been scheduled for 12 arrivals and departures. At Atlantic City International Airport, there were six.

Airport officials in Atlantic County, Egg Harbor Township said they are working with airline partners to try to increase flight, as well as expand destinations.

Spirit Airlines is shutting down, in a move that will affect thousands of scheduled flights and nearly as many employees. NBC10’s Neil Fischer joined us from the Philadelphia International Airport early Saturday and spoke to travelers.

“We have been working to diversify our services so we do feel confident that our carriers Allegiant, American and Breeze, who starts next Wednesday, are going to be able to step up and help to provide some of the capacity that Spirit used to have here,” Airport Director Timothy Kroll said.

Spirit is urging customers with existing reservations not to go to the airport.

Some travelers were able to rebook with other airlines, including Allegiant, and fly out the same day to similar Florida destinations.

Amid the uncertainty, airport leaders are asking for patience.

“Be patient, but also be on the lookout because we are hopeful to have some news real shortly that will make traveling out of Atlantic City easy,” Kroll said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.