The struggling budget airline Spirit Airlines has approached the Trump administration on Friday requesting emergency financial assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a report from Air Current. The company is seeking the federal aid to combat escalating fuel expenses and prevent a potential company shutdown, sources familiar with the situation told the aviation publication.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is scheduled to meet with leadership from multiple budget airlines early next week, the report indicated. The Department of Transportation initiated these discussions to assess the financial stability of the country’s smaller airline companies.
When contacted by Reuters for a statement, Spirit Airlines representatives had not yet provided a response.
The airline’s parent company, Spirit Aviation Holdings, is currently implementing significant restructuring measures designed to reduce expenses and strengthen its financial position. This comes after the company has sought bankruptcy protection twice in the span of one year.
In August 2025, the Florida-headquartered airline entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second time, operating a fleet of 214 aircraft at that point. The carrier had previously completed its first bankruptcy process in March of the previous year.
The company announced last month its intention to significantly downsize its operations, planning to reduce its aircraft fleet to between 76 and 80 planes by the third quarter of 2026. The remaining fleet will primarily include Airbus A320 and A321ceo aircraft models.
The aviation sector worldwide has been significantly impacted by dramatically increased jet fuel costs, which have risen due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. These elevated fuel expenses have compelled airlines across the industry to increase ticket prices and adjust their financial projections.
