Spirit Airlines shutters as fuel surge fueled by Iran conflict knots its fate

Spirit Airlines has begun an orderly wind-down after a failed $500 million bailout, with a spike in aviation fuel costs tied to the US-Israel war on Iran pushing a financially strained carrier—already facing multiple bankruptcies—into closure. About 17,000 employees are affected and passengers may be stranded as the industry grapples with volatile fuel prices and higher costs, prompting other airlines to raise surcharges and rethink routes while leadership debates how to protect customers and staff amid ongoing volatility.