Top airline offers $99 rescue fares as thousands are left stranded by Spirit shutdown

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JetBlue is stepping in to assist travelers affected by Spirit Airlines’ shutdown, offering discounted fares and expanding service in key markets.

The move follows Spirit’s sudden shutdown over the weekend, which haltedthousands of flightsand left passengers scrambling to rebook.

JetBlue will provide $99 one-way “rescue fares” for stranded Spirit customers with proof of a valid itinerary on the same route, with travel available through May 6, the company said in a press release.

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The airline will also cap certain fares at $299 onnonstop routespreviously operated by Spirit from Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, aiming to prevent last-minute price spikes.

A JetBlue plane taking off near idle Spirit Airlines planes on the tarmac at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

JetBlue aims to support passengers affected by Spirit Airlines’ closure by introducing reduced ticket prices and boosting service across major routes, the company said.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

“This is really tough news for the thousands of Spirit team members affected, as well as the customers who were planning trips on Spirit,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a statement.“We want to help fill the void created by this loss.”

JetBlue, which has major operations in Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, said it is positioned to absorb some of the displaced demand.

11 destinationsand increasing flights on existing routes, including new service to cities such as Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit and Houston, along with Barranquilla and Cali, Colombia.

As part of the expansion, JetBlue is also returning to Charlotte Douglas International Airport for the first time since 2024, reintroducing service to a market it previously exited due to lower demand.

A traveler standing in the JetBlue check-in area at Philadelphia International Airport

The company is reportedly expanding its network and boosting flight frequency on current routes, including the launch of several new services.(Ryan Collerd/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The expansion will bring JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale schedule to nearly 130 daily departures this summer, its largest operation at the airport to date.

South Floridais a key market for JetBlue, and we recognize this is a challenging moment for many travelers,” said Geraghty in the statement.“Our focus is on stepping up in the near term by adding service, maintaining connectivity and keeping fares competitive, so customers can continue to travel with confidence.”

JetBlue said it will continue to adjust capacity based on demand.

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The airline is also offering support to Spirit employees, extending travel privileges for pilots and flight attendants trying to return home andoffering interview opportunitiesfor open roles.

Security lines at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport departures level with travelers waiting.

As part of its expansion, JetBlue is resuming service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (pictured) for the first time since 2024.(Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)

Lee Abbamonte, a New York-based travel expert, said Spirit “almost singlehandedly kept pricing competitive in many markets,” adding that its absence could reduce pressure on other carriers to keep fares low.

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“Without Spirit, there’s no reason for airfare to ever come down,�