Joe Biden And Donald Trump Crushed Spirit Airlines In Rare Bipartisan Effort

Spirit Airlines, once the fastest-growing airline in America, has ceased operations after a series of events triggered by both the Biden and Trump administrations. In 2014, Spirit was adding planes to its fleet, new routes to its itineraries, and committing $100 million to stock buybacks.

However, the airline’s successes were predicated on shallow profit margins and low prices, making it vulnerable to external factors. The Biden administration’s antitrust crackdown blocked a potential merger with JetBlue, while the Trump administration’s tariff-driven inflation crisis and war with Iran led to exploding fuel costs.

Spirit filed for bankruptcy twice before ultimately ceasing operations, leaving 15,000 employees out of a job. The Biden administration, under Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, was opposed to any reduction in airline competition, arguing that a whole Spirit was better for the industry.

The Trump administration’s actions, including a proposed loan in exchange for federal control of 90% of the airline’s shares, were also deemed unacceptable by Spirit’s shareholders. The demise of Spirit Airlines is a result of a combination of factors, including the global pandemic, inflation, and government policies.