The former New Hampshire governor, Chris Sununu, praised President Donald Trump on Saturday, May 2, for his efforts to save Spirit Airlines as the low-cost carrier shut down after 34 years in business.
Spirit Airlines announced Saturday that it was shutting down operations and canceling all flights, prompting passengers to scramble to make new plans.
The company did this because it ran out of money and couldn’t get a government bailout.
Sununu, appearing on Newsmax, said Trump tried “100 different ways” to make a deal work. “Hats off to the President,” Sununu said.
“He really tried because he cared about those customers. He cared about those employees. At the end of the day, Spirit was a financial disaster.”
Spirit, known for its ultra-low fares, employed about 17,000 people and flew hundreds of daily routes. The airline had filed for bankruptcy protection twice in less than two years.
Rising jet fuel prices, driven higher by the conflict with Iran, delivered the final blow, company officials said.
Also Read: Spirit Airlines Collapse Prompts Trump Admin to Issue Directive for Americans Stranded Overseas
The Trump administration looked into several ways to keep Spirit flying, including a $500 million rescue package.
There were talks right up to the last minute, but no deal was reached. Trump had said that the government might have to take over the airline completely if necessary.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced steps to help stranded passengers rebook on other carriers. Major airlines said they would add capacity where possible to absorb Spirit’s routes.
Chris Sununu downplays rising airfare prices
Sununu, now leading Airlines for America, noted that airfares had stayed flat for years before recent pressures.
“If things go on and all of that, you’ll probably see a 10% increase in prices,” he said, “but that’s on top of the fact that before the war, the average price of a domestic airline ticket hadn’t budged in six or seven years.”
The shutdown signifies the end of an era for the budget airline, which shook up the industry by offering bare-bones fares and forcing bigger carriers to compete on price. Spirit’s business model left it with little room to handle spikes in fuel costs or other shocks.
Trump allies pointed to earlier decisions that shaped Spirit’s fate. The Biden administration had blocked a proposed merger with JetBlue, saying it would hurt competition.
Spirit entered bankruptcy first in late 2024 and again in 2025 as losses mounted.
Some industry watchers said the airline’s heavy debt and reliance on low fares made survival difficult regardless of outside help. Others blamed the latest fuel price surge for pushing it over the edge.
Also Read: Greene Rips Trump Over $500M Spirit Airlines Bailout as Living Costs Surge
After Spirit’s problems worsened, Trump pushed for quick action as his administration met with creditors and explored various ways to raise funds. However, the numbers didn’t add up in the end.
Travelers who bought Spirit tickets will now have to look for other flights. The Transportation Department told them to call their credit card companies to get their money back and book other flights soon to avoid paying more at the last minute.
Spirit, which focused on vacation routes to Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America, could see some changes in the domestic market due to the shutdown.
Some smaller cities might have fewer options in the short term, even as other carriers step in.
Chris Sununu lauds Trump for his efforts
Sununu, a Republican who has sometimes broken with Trump in the past, leveraged his platform at the industry trade group to pinpoint the value of presidential engagement.
He said the effort showed concern for workers even when the business case proved too weak.
Sununu and other leaders also called about policies to boost domestic energy production and ease regulatory burdens.
Spirit’s exit leaves a gap that the rest of the industry will now try to fill. The airline represented many travelers’ first or only affordable option.
