ORLANDO, Fla. –
The fallout continues at Orlando International Airport after the sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines.
Thousands of travelers were stranded when Spirit abruptly cancelled all flights over the weekend.
With the shutdown of global operations, Spirit became the first major U.S. airline in 25 years to go out of business because of financial problems.
Michael Wilkes was searching for a flight back home to Dallas after learning his return trip on Spirit was cancelled.
I’m stranded, no way home. Now I’ve got to go out of pocket and obtain an airfare through another airline," Wilkes said. “We’re here trying to get home after a two-week-long vacation, and this is our reward from Spirit. Thanks, Spirit.”
There has been finger-pointing on both sides of the political spectrum for the airline’s demise.
Republicans have blamed the Biden Administration for blocking Spirit’s plan to merge with JetBlue. Democrats and the airline’s CEO have said skyrocketing jet fuel costs led to the airline ceasing operations.
As stranded passengers have been working to rebook flights, some have turned to each other for help.
Mitch Groome and his wife bought a ticket on Southwest Airlines for a woman who said she didn’t have money to book a flight back home.
“I just feel bad. We’re all stranded, and she’s trying to get home,” Groome said. “I know how stressful it is because I’m in the same position. So I just thought, let me help her out. Pay for her ticket just so she’ll get home safe.”