04/21/2026
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport could take a hit if Spirit Airlines shuts down amid reports it may liquidate.
Florida-based Spirit Aviation Holdings is facing that risk, according to an April 15 Bloomberg report, as rising jet fuel costs tied to the U.S. conflict with Iran worsen its already strained finances.
In an effort to avoid liquidation, the airline has reportedly considered offering the U.S. government an equity stake.
A shutdown would significantly impact DFW, which handled over 86 million passengers in 2025. An estimated 7,000 flights would be impacted.
Spirit has operated there since 2011, maintaining a pilot and flight attendant base and flying out of Terminal E.
The airline accounted for about 3.1% of departing passengers—roughly 1.35 million travelers—in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, making it DFW’s fourth-largest carrier behind American, Frontier, and Delta. It also ranked as the airport’s sixth-largest revenue source, generating around $15.7 million during that period.
