Home - CBSNews.com | What would a Spirit Airlines shutdown mean for travelers? AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. A shutdown of Spirit Airlines would trigger higher airfares across commercial aviation as the ultra‑low‑cost carrier exits the market, with industry data showing a 23% average price jump (about $60) on routes once served by Spirit and a 20% drop in passenger volume. With a stalled $500 million federal bailout, Spirit could cease operations imminently, leaving ticket‑holders entitled to full refunds under federal credit laws but facing challenges if they paid cash or used loyalty points; experts advise filing a charge‑back with the credit‑card issuer rather than canceling tickets outright. In response, United and American Airlines have pledged “rescue” or capped‑fare options for stranded travelers, though these will likely still cost more than Spirit’s previous rates. Analysts expect other budget carriers (e.g., Frontier, Avelo, Breeze, Allegiant) to move into the vacated routes over the next few months, but the immediate effect will be increased ticket prices at a time when fares are already rising due to higher jet‑fuel costs. Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spirit-airlines-tickets-flghts-shutting-down-impact/ #SpiritAirlines #Cirium #United #American #Frontier