PBS NewsHour - The Latest | Summer travelers who relied on Spirit Airlines may struggle to find affordable alternatives by Rio Yamat, Associated Press AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Summer travelers who depended on Spirit Airlines now face a scarcity of low‑cost options after the carrier abruptly ceased operations on May 3. In court, a Spirit lawyer apologized to price‑sensitive passengers, noting many could not otherwise afford air travel. The shutdown coincides with a broader squeeze on budget carriers: soaring jet‑fuel prices tied to the Iran war, inflation, and intensified competition have eroded the traditional price advantage low‑fare airlines once enjoyed. Major carriers such as American, Delta and United use dynamic pricing and premium revenue streams to offset fuel costs, while legacy low‑cost players like Frontier and Allegiant are seeking consolidation—Frontier expanding into former Spirit markets and Allegiant acquiring Sun Country—to bolster liquidity. Industry experts warn that the combination of volatile fuel costs, limited government aid, and shrinking competition signals a weakening sector, leaving travelers to confront higher fares and fewer inexpensive choices for the summer travel season. Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/summer-travelers-who-relied-on-spirit-airlines-may-struggle-to-find-affordable-alternatives #SpiritAirlines #ShyeGilad #SeanDuffy #AlaskaAirlines #HawaiianAirlines #Allegiant #Frontier #SunCountry #American #Delta #budgetairlines