Salt Lake City is among the destinations that will no longer be served by Spirit Airlines as it tries to consolidate operations amid financial difficulties.
The low-cost airline launched service to Salt Lake City International Airport with great fanfare in early 2022 but will quit flying to the Beehive State Oct. 2 as part of a bankruptcy restructuring plan.
“As part of our efforts to transform our business and position Spirit for long-term success, we are adjusting our network to focus on our strongest performing markets,” the airline announced in a statement earlier this month. “We apologize to our guests for any inconvenience this may cause and will reach out to those with affected reservations to notify them of their options, including a refund.”
Flights servicing Albuquerque, New Mexico; Birmingham, Alabama; Boise, Idaho; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Columbia, South Carolina; Oakland, California; Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; and San Diego and San Jose, California, will be permanently suspended Oct. 2, in addition to Salt Lake City. Spirit is also canceling its plan to begin service to Macon, Georgia, which was scheduled to start on Oct. 16.
Nancy Volmer, a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City airport, noted that all of the cities serviced by Spirit from Salt Lake are covered by other airlines.
“Salt Lake City Department of Airports regrets to hear the news that SLC is one of the 11 markets that Spirit is leaving. We understand the challenges they are facing and wish them well,” Volmer said in a statement.
Florida-based Spirit filed for bankruptcy at the end of August, just months after emerging from a previous Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy filing.