SPIRIT Airlines shuts down, leaving Southwest Florida travelers scrambling

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A budget airline many Southwest Florida travelers relied on is now out of business.

Spirit Airlines announced Saturday it has canceled all flights and begun winding down operations effective immediately, bringing an abrupt end to more than 30 years in business.

At Southwest Florida International Airport, the shutdown was visible — even without crowds.

The Spirit ticketing area sat empty, with kiosks displaying an “operation update” following the airline’s early morning announcement. Airport officials say no Spirit flights arrived at RSW Saturday, but for travelers who relied on those routes, the impact is already being felt.

For many, the scramble to rebook started overnight.

“I started looking at other airlines and seeing what options I had,” said Bob Monahan, a Fort Myers resident.

Monahan was supposed to fly back to RSW from Atlantic City Sunday morning. He says he’s flown Spirit for 19 years — about once a month.

“I really enjoy the airline… one cancellation in the 19 years,” he said.

RSW says Spirit served several markets out of the airport, including Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago O’Hare and Detroit.

Monahan was able to find another flight home through Allegiant, but says the sudden shutdown still comes with frustrations.

“It’s disappointing. But you know, it is what it is,” he said.

For Brenda Midolo of Naples, Spirit was part of her routine.

She and her husband used the airline for years to travel to St. John — flying into St. Thomas before taking a ferry to the island.

They made it there without a problem.

But when they woke up the next morning, their return flight was gone.

“We woke up this morning, and now we don’t have a way back,” Midolo said.

With Spirit’s customer service unavailable and limited options online, the couple rebooked on another airline — flying into Miami instead of Fort Lauderdale.

It’s a longer, less convenient trip home to Naples.

Midolo says she’s also thinking about the people behind the airline.

“I’m sad that if Spirit doesn’t come back… there’s a lot of jobs lost, a lot of good people,” she said.

Spirit says refunds will be automatically processed for flights purchased directly through the airline with a credit or debit card. Passengers who booked through a travel agent are advised to contact them directly.

The airline is also warning customers not to come to the airport, as customer service is no longer available.

RSW says it has posted a link on its website and Facebook page to help travelers find information about refunds and next steps.