Spirit Airlines stopped flying at 3 a.m. Saturday, canceling every flight it had left and leaving passengers stranded at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and airports across the country.
What happened: Spirit ran out of money after a $500 million federal rescue deal fell apart. Jet fuel prices have climbed about 80% because of the ongoing conflict in Iran, pushing the airline past the breaking point. Spirit had already been through two bankruptcies before Saturday.
At BWI: Airport officials are telling Spirit ticket holders to stay home. All Spirit flights are canceled, no airline staff are on-site, and there is no one at the airport to help with refunds or rebooking. Passengers should contact their booking provider or credit card company directly.
What stranded passengers should know: Spirit says it will automatically refund customers who bought tickets directly with a credit or debit card. Anyone who booked through a travel agent or used vouchers or points will need to go through their travel agent or file a claim through bankruptcy court.
Rescue fares: Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier at BWI, is offering special fares at its ticket counters for stranded travelers. JetBlue is offering $99 one-way fares to passengers holding valid Spirit reservations. Delta, United, American, and Frontier have agreed to cap fares, generally between $200 and $300, for anyone who can show proof of a Spirit booking.
Workers: About 17,000 Spirit employees and contractors lost their jobs Saturday.
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