Spirit Airlines closes shop as fuel costs push airline to wind down

Spirit Airlines announced it has gone out of business after 34 years, saying it could not stay aloft as jet-fuel costs rose amid the Iran war; all flights were canceled and about 17,000 employees were laid off as the company began an orderly wind-down, after previously filing for bankruptcy. The Trump administration floated a taxpayer bailout, but no deal was reached, with officials blaming Biden for the crisis. Refunds will be available to direct-purchasers, other airlines are assisting stranded passengers, and the final Spirit flight landed in Dallas as operations ended.