(MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES) Spirit Airlines will end flights at five more cities, including Milwaukee, as the ultra-low-cost carrier’s retrenchment deepens under its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in less than a year. The airline said service will end at Milwaukee, Phoenix, Rochester, and St. Louis on January 8, 2026, with its Bucaramanga, Colombia route ending January 13, 2026. The move continues a string of airport exits across the United States and Latin America, affecting travelers, airport jobs, and low-fare competition in the affected markets.
Airline statement and customer impact
In a statement, Spirit apologized to customers and promised direct outreach to those holding tickets on canceled routes.
“We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience and will reach out to those with affected travel plans to notify them of their options, including a refund,” a Spirit spokesperson told AirlineGeeks.
The company added: “Thank you to our partners and Guests in these communities for their support over the years.” The message, while brief, reflects a broader shift as Spirit trims its network to stay afloat.
Recent network retrenchment
The latest airport exits follow earlier withdrawals since October 2025, when the carrier began pulling back from at least 11 other cities. Those cuts included:
- Albuquerque
- Birmingham
- Boise
- Chattanooga
- Columbia (South Carolina)
- Oakland
- Portland (Oregon)
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Diego
- San Jose
Industry records also show reductions at Hartford and Minneapolis–St. Paul during this period. Each exit has reduced the number of low-fare seats in those markets, pushing many travelers toward legacy airlines or forcing longer trips to alternative airports.
Leadership and strategic rationale
Rana Ghosh, Spirit’s Chief Commercial Officer, described the decisions as hard but necessary:
“While we previously reduced our presence at these airports, these decisions were still difficult, and we are incredibly grateful for our Team Members and partners at both stations.”
The company is concentrating on routes that bring stronger revenue and faster recovery, a strategy intended to steady operations while it works through bankruptcy court.
Network focus and personnel changes
- Spirit has announced a nationwide schedule cut of about 25%, with roughly 40 routes suspended or dropped in late 2025.
- Andrea Lusso, formerly of JetBlue and Amazon Air, was named vice president of network planning and now oversees route decisions meant to preserve profitable city pairs while cutting weaker links.
Workforce and operational consequences
Spirit has notified around 1,800 flight attendants—about one-third of its cabin crew—of furloughs effective December 1, 2025. For many employees, that means abrupt income loss ahead of the holidays.
Local airport impacts include:
- Fewer aircraft turnarounds
- Less ramp work
- Leaner concession sales tied to departing flights
Analysis by VisaVerge.com warns that labor impacts from fast downsizing can echo for months, as training schedules, qualifications, and aircraft assignments must be rebuilt when the network changes. That uncertainty can fuel turnover and complicate future recovery.
Competitor responses and market shifts
Competitors are moving quickly to fill gaps left by Spirit:
- United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and JetBlue have announced new or expanded routes where Spirit is pulling back.
- JetBlue is adding capacity at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
- Frontier, another ultra-low-cost carrier, is a likely suitor in some markets but has been cautious about rapid expansion.
This pattern is familiar in U.S. aviation: when one carrier steps back, others often test the waters with targeted growth—especially where airports offer favorable costs or gate access.
Florida focus and fleet strategy
Spirit’s network strategy is leaning more heavily toward Florida:
- The airline says it will grow to 100 peak daily departures from Fort Lauderdale in 2026.
- It plans new service to Key West, Belize, and Grand Cayman.
Doubling down on leisure routes with steady demand helps a cash-strapped carrier because Florida markets often allow quick turns and short-haul flights that maximize aircraft usage across a smaller fleet.
Financial background and operational challenges
Spirit entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy again in August 2025, citing heavy debt, rising competition, and operational issues tied to Pratt & Whitney engine problems. Consequences include:
- Some aircraft grounded or delayed returning to service
- Lease terminations complicating fleet planning
- A restructuring plan aimed to shrink losses, pay key creditors, and preserve flights in core markets
The carrier’s approach emphasizes operational reliability and cash flow over maintaining a broad route map.
What travelers should know
For passengers holding affected tickets:
- Spirit says it is contacting passengers directly and will offer refunds or rebooking where possible.
- Under U.S. federal rules, customers are entitled to a refund when an airline cancels a flight and the passenger chooses not to travel.
The U.S. Department of Transportation explains these protections on its refund guidance page, which can help travelers confirm their rights and next steps here.
Important: As airport exits spread, more passengers are likely to seek refunds—especially on routes where alternatives are scarce or more expensive.
Local economic impacts and replacement efforts
The effect on local fares and connectivity will vary by city:
- In Phoenix and St. Louis, large carriers and Southwest provide many options, so fares may hold steady.
- In Rochester and Milwaukee, Spirit’s exit could reduce price pressure, potentially nudging average fares higher until replacement services appear.
- Ending the Bucaramanga link affects visiting family members, students, and small business owners—forcing connections through Bogotá, Medellín, or Panama City, which adds time and cost.
Airport officials in affected cities will likely court replacement capacity using incentives such as:
- Fee waivers
- Marketing support
- Schedule coordination
Legacy carriers may add frequency when they see enough premium or loyalty demand, but they often avoid pure price battles.
Near-term outlook
Customers can expect continued schedule tweaks as Spirit navigates bankruptcy proceedings. The airline has signaled that Fort Lauderdale will remain its center of gravity; stabilizing there could allow Spirit to revisit some secondary markets later.
For now, the operating pattern is clear: protect the strongest routes and exit the rest. For Milwaukee and the other cities on the latest list, the countdown to January 2026 is now underway.
This Article in a Nutshell
Spirit Airlines is further trimming its network amid a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy, ending service to Milwaukee, Phoenix, Rochester and St. Louis on January 8, 2026, and Bucaramanga on January 13, 2026. The carrier has cut about 25% of its schedule, suspended roughly 40 routes, and notified around 1,800 flight attendants of furloughs effective December 1, 2025. Spirit is concentrating growth in Florida—targeting 100 peak daily departures from Fort Lauderdale in 2026—while competitors plan to fill gaps and affected passengers are being offered refunds or rebooking.
