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

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

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.

"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.

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.

Fox News Digital reached out to JetBlue for further comment.

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

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

Travel experts are warning that the loss of Spirit Airlines could have ripple effects across airfare pricing nationwide, Fox News Digital previously reported.

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.

"Without Spirit, there's no reason for airfare to ever come down," Abbamonte told Fox News Digital, noting the shift could mean fewer options and higher baseline prices for budget travelers.

Andrea Margolis of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.