By Sandy Fitzgerald | Sunday, 03 May 2026 12:41 PM EDT
Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who serves as president and CEO of Airlines for America, described Spirit Airlines’ financial condition as a “disaster” following the Trump administration’s decision to reject a proposed bailout.
Sununu stated that Spirit had accumulated massive debt and virtually no assets, with its flight operations plummeting from 220 to approximately 80 flights. He emphasized that while President Donald Trump’s efforts to explore options were appreciated, a government-backed bailout would have amounted to “investing in a pile of garbage.”
Sununu noted that other airlines have taken significant steps to assist Spirit passengers and employees. United Airlines has relocated over 30,000 stranded travelers, Southwest has aided approximately 20,000 individuals, and JetBlue is providing support. Additionally, Spirit employees are being directed through a dedicated website for transition into roles at other carriers.
He also criticized the Biden administration’s 2024 decision to block a proposed $4 billion merger between Spirit and JetBlue, calling it a factor in the airline’s collapse. Sununu said that if the deal had been approved, Spirit would have avoided bankruptcy and liquidation.
“Leave it to the government to make things worse,” Sununu remarked. “They stepped in when they shouldn’t have.”
Sununu concluded that businesses should be evaluated on their financial models rather than through political interventions: “When you’re looking at businesses, it’s not about bailouts. It’s about understanding financial models, what is best for the customer, how does the business actually work?”
