Spirit Airlines Is Shutting Down: What It Means for Flights to Colombia

Spirit Airlines ceased all operations on May 2, 2026, cancelling every scheduled flight and instructing passengers not to go to the airport. The airline shut down its customer service lines and began an orderly wind-down. Spirit is the first major US airline to go out of business in 25 years, ending 34 years of service.

For expats flying between the US and Colombia, this is the most significant route disruption in a decade. Spirit was the primary ultra-low-cost carrier on these routes, serving 7 Colombian cities with direct flights from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Those flights are gone.

What Happened

Spirit’s troubles started in November 2024, when the airline filed for bankruptcy for the first time. By March 2025, it had emerged after restructuring its debt. The recovery was short-lived. On August 29, 2025, Spirit filed for Chapter 11 a second time, citing “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating.

In January 2026, the airline cut 25% of its schedule and ended its route to Bucaramanga. The following month brought an operational meltdown, with over 250 flights cancelled at the Fort Lauderdale hub due to crew shortages.

Then the external shock hit. Conflict in Iran disrupted oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, and jet fuel prices spiked from $2.24 per gallon to $4.51 per gallon. Spirit’s restructuring plan had assumed fuel at $2.24 in 2026 and $2.14 in 2027. The actual price added roughly $360 million in annual fuel costs, exceeding the airline’s cash reserves. In March 2026, Spirit slashed 11 international routes and reduced frequency on 22 more.

By April 2026, Fortune reported that avoiding liquidation was “all but impossible.” A $500 million government bailout collapsed on May 1. Spirit’s stock sits at 3 cents per share. The airline accumulated over $2.5 billion in losses since 2020. Between 14,000 and 17,000 employees face layoffs, including 14,000 Spirit employees and thousands of contractors.

Which Colombian Cities Are Affected

Spirit served 7 Colombian cities, all from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or Orlando (MCO): Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, Cali, Barranquilla, Armenia (in the Eje Cafetero region), and Bucaramanga.

Spirit began flying to Colombia roughly 15 years ago and saw 234% passenger growth on these routes over the past decade. Between January and August 2024 alone, over 637,000 passengers flew Spirit between the US and Colombia.

All routes are now permanently cancelled:

Route	Final Status
FLL to Bogota	Ceased May 2, 2026
FLL to Medellin	Ceased May 2, 2026
FLL to Cartagena	Ceased May 2, 2026
FLL to Cali	Ceased May 2, 2026
FLL to Barranquilla	Ceased May 2, 2026
FLL to Armenia	Ceased May 2, 2026
FLL to Bucaramanga	Eliminated Jan 2026
MCO to Bogota	Eliminated Apr 2026

Six Colombian cities have lost their cheapest direct connection to the United States.

How to Get a Refund

Spirit is not rebooking passengers on other airlines. Here is what to do depending on how you paid:

• Credit or debit card purchases: Spirit says it will automatically process refunds for tickets bought directly with a credit or debit card. However, not all refunds will appear automatically. If yours does not show within a few days, contact your credit card company and request a chargeback under the Fair Credit Billing Act for “services not rendered.”
• Third-party bookings (Expedia, Kayak, etc.): Contact the booking agency directly for your refund. Do not wait for Spirit.
• Vouchers, credits, or Free Spirit points: These are likely lost. Spirit stated that potential refunds for these payment methods will be determined through the bankruptcy court process. Do not count on recovering this money.
• Travel insurance: Check your policy for “insolvency” or “service cessation” coverage. Some policies cover airline failures; many do not.

Keep all documentation: receipts, booking confirmations, cancellation notices, and any correspondence with the airline. Act immediately. Credit card companies and insurance providers have strict deadlines.

Rescue Fares and Industry Response

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy secured agreements with nine airlines to provide relief for stranded Spirit passengers. To access these fares, you need at minimum a Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment.

Capped fare programs:

• JetBlue: $99 one-way rescue fares for passengers who were scheduled to fly Spirit between May 2 and May 6 on the same or a similar route. Call 1-800-JETBLUE. Blue Basic fares also capped at $299 on nonstop JetBlue routes from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and San Juan (SJU) where it competed with Spirit. JetBlue also extended its jumpseat agreement to displaced Spirit crew and is interviewing for open roles.
• United Airlines: Most rescue fares capped at $199 one-way; longer routes capped at $299 one-way. Travel window is May 2-16. Book at united.com/specialfares with your Spirit confirmation number and proof of purchase. You must enroll in MileagePlus to qualify. Covered cities include Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, and Orlando.
• Southwest: Tiered flat fares at airport ticket counters for domestic flights — $200 one-way under 500 miles, $300 for 501-1,000 miles, $400 for 1,000+ miles. Spirit Free Spirit Silver and Gold elites can also status-match into Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List.
• Delta Air Lines: Reduced, nonrefundable rescue fares filed in impacted markets for five days, including U.S.-Latin America routes where Spirit had a presence. Availability varies by market.
• American Airlines: Cheaper rescue fares on routes and cities where it competed with Spirit. American is also evaluating extra flights and larger aircraft on key routes, providing transportation for displaced Spirit employees, and holding recruiting events for former Spirit workers.

Discount programs:

• Frontier Airlines: Up to 50% off base fares for travel through November 19. Use promo code SAVENOW at flyfrontier.com, in the Frontier app, or via the call center. Book by May 10 at 11:59 PM ET. The 50% rate applies only to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday travel with 21-day advance purchase; all other days get 10% off with no advance-purchase requirement. Blackout dates: May 21-22 and 25; June 18-30; July 1-19; September 3-4 and 7; October 5-18. Frontier serves more than 100 routes previously flown by Spirit and is adding 9 more routes plus 15 daily flights across 18 former Spirit markets. Separately, Frontier is selling a GoWild Summer Pass for $199 (booking window May 2-8) covering unlimited domestic flights May 2 through September 8, capacity-controlled.
• Allegiant Air: Holding fares steady on overlapping routes and offering the equivalent of 50% back in Allways Rewards points (not 50% off the fare) on 20-plus eligible routes. Use promo code ALLWAYSTHERE at checkout. Book by May 12 for travel through July 20.
• Avelo Airlines: Up to 75% off base fares on select routes for travel through November 17. Use promo code TRYAVELO at checkout. Avelo is also actively hiring displaced Spirit crew.

Avianca free-return offer (most relevant for Colombia travelers):

Separate from the DOT-coordinated rescue fares, Avianca announced its own protection plan on May 2 from Miami, citing its 106-year commitment to regional connectivity. Avianca will fly stranded Spirit passengers home with no airfare charge, subject to availability and these conditions:

• You must have already flown the outbound segment of a Spirit itinerary and hold a return ticket to your original destination.
• Travel dates on the original Spirit ticket must fall between May 2 and May 16, 2026.
• Go to the airport on the same day as your flight or, at most, one day before. Reallocation is handled on a first-come, first-served basis at the counter.
• You are still responsible for taxes, fees, government contributions, and administrative charges. Only the base airfare is waived.
• Bring your Spirit ticket and proof of payment for verification.

Avianca has the broadest Colombia network of any carrier offering relief, which makes this the strongest option for expats stuck in Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, Cali, Barranquilla, Armenia, or Bucaramanga who need to get back to the US within the next two weeks. For full conditions, special services (wheelchairs, pets), and other details, see the Avianca Help Center.

Other carriers are offering preferential job interviews for displaced pilots, flight attendants, and staff.

JetBlue Is Adding 2 New Colombia Routes

JetBlue has announced 11 new routes from Fort Lauderdale to fill Spirit’s gap, including two to Colombia:

• Fort Lauderdale to Barranquilla (BAQ): Daily flights launching October 1, 2026
• Fort Lauderdale to Cali (CLO): Daily flights launching October 15, 2026

Bookings open on the evening of May 4, 2026.

The expansion adds 27 daily flights, pushing JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale operation to nearly 130 daily departures this summer. That is more than 75% above its 2025 levels and the largest schedule JetBlue has ever run from the airport. Spirit previously accounted for nearly 30% of Fort Lauderdale’s total traffic.

JetBlue already flies to Bogota and Cartagena from Fort Lauderdale. With Barranquilla and Cali added, JetBlue will serve 4 of the 7 Colombian cities Spirit covered. Medellin, Armenia, and Bucaramanga remain without JetBlue service from Fort Lauderdale.

Avianca Expanding 3 Permanent US Routes

On May 4, Avianca announced three permanent US-Colombia frequency increases on top of its short-term free-return offer. All three are pending US government approval:

• Bogotá to Fort Lauderdale (FLL): doubling from 1 to 2 daily flights
• Barranquilla to Miami (MIA): increasing from 3 weekly to daily service
• Medellín to Orlando (MCO): moving from limited seasonal flights to year-round daily service

Each one of these directly fills a gap Spirit left behind. Doubling Bogotá to Fort Lauderdale absorbs the largest single route Spirit operated to Colombia. The Medellín to Orlando upgrade is currently the only announced replacement for Medellín, which JetBlue is not restoring at Fort Lauderdale. Barranquilla now gets coverage from both directions: JetBlue’s new daily Fort Lauderdale flight starting October 1, plus Avianca’s expanded Miami service.

Avianca already runs more than 400 weekly flights across 14 US destinations, including Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and seasonal Las Vegas. The airline carried more than 4.9 million US-market passengers in 2025, which makes it the most realistic carrier to scale up Colombia capacity quickly. Specific launch dates have not been published yet because the routes still need DOT approval.

What This Means for Fares

Spirit was the price floor on US-Colombia routes. Fares like $47 from Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena and $76 from Fort Lauderdale to Bogota will not be matched by remaining carriers. A CBS News analysis found that average fares jumped 23%, roughly $60 per round trip, when Spirit previously exited a route.

For expats who fly home once or twice a year, this directly affects cost of living calculations. A round trip that used to cost $150 on Spirit could easily double or triple on a legacy carrier, especially during peak travel seasons around Christmas and Semana Santa.

Fort Lauderdale, the hub most critical to the Colombian diaspora in South Florida, faces the heaviest losses in the near term. JetBlue’s expansion will help but will not replace the rock-bottom pricing Spirit offered.

Your Options Now

• Request cash refunds on existing Spirit bookings. Do not accept flight credits. Credits become worthless in liquidation. File a chargeback with your credit card company if the refund does not appear.
• Use rescue fares now. Call JetBlue (1-800-JETBLUE) for $99 fares through May 6. Check Southwest at airport counters. Check United online. Have your Spirit booking confirmation ready.
• Stuck in Colombia with a return ticket? Avianca will fly you home with no airfare charge (taxes and fees still apply) for original Spirit travel dates between May 2 and May 16. Go to the airport same-day or one day before with your Spirit ticket and proof of payment. First-come, first-served at the counter.
• Know your alternative carriers. Avianca covers the most Colombian cities from Miami and is the strongest replacement on most routes. JetBlue serves Bogota, Cartagena, and soon Barranquilla and Cali from Fort Lauderdale. Copa Airlines connects through its Panama City hub to nearly every Colombian city.
• Domestic flights are unaffected. Spirit only operated international routes. For getting around inside Colombia, see our guide to local airlines.
• Book early on remaining carriers. Demand will shift as Spirit passengers look for alternatives, and fares will climb. Lock in prices as soon as your travel dates are firm.
• Consider alternate US gateways. Miami is Avianca’s US hub with the most Colombia options. JFK has strong JetBlue coverage. If you have been flying out of Fort Lauderdale purely because of Spirit, explore what is available from nearby airports.
• Watch for JetBlue’s new routes. Barranquilla bookings open May 4 for October 1 service. Cali bookings open May 4 for October 15 service. Lock in early fares before demand builds.
• Avianca is permanently expanding 3 US routes. Bogotá to Fort Lauderdale doubles to 2 daily flights, Barranquilla to Miami goes daily, and Medellín to Orlando becomes year-round daily. All three are pending DOT approval and have no published launch date yet. Especially relevant if you fly to Medellín or were used to flying Spirit out of Fort Lauderdale to Bogotá.
• Arriving at a new Colombian airport? If you are switching carriers and landing somewhere unfamiliar, check our airport transfers guide for ground transport options in each city.

The Bigger Picture

Spirit was one of the few airlines offering genuinely affordable flights between the US and Colombia. Its disappearance narrows options and raises costs, especially for expats who fly back and forth regularly. The Fort Lauderdale to Colombia corridor was the backbone of Spirit’s international network and served the large Colombian diaspora concentrated in South Florida. Losing these nonstop connections forces travelers onto connecting itineraries through Panama City or onto significantly more expensive carriers.

JetBlue’s aggressive expansion at Fort Lauderdale is a positive signal. Adding Barranquilla and Cali to its Colombia network shows the demand is real. But JetBlue is not an ultra-low-cost carrier. Its fares will be higher than Spirit’s. With Avianca’s planned upgrade of Medellín to Orlando to year-round daily service, Medellín now has a real replacement option, just out of a different US gateway. Armenia and Bucaramanga still have no announced replacement service from Fort Lauderdale, and travelers to Medellín lose the FLL nonstop in favor of MCO.

The broader budget airline model is under pressure. Fuel costs remain elevated due to the ongoing conflict, and the economics that made $47 flights possible may not return soon. If you are budgeting for life in Colombia, factor in higher airfare for the foreseeable future.

We will continue updating this article as more airlines announce route changes affecting Colombia.