Spirit Airlines Closes Its Doors, Sparking Community Movement
Spirit Airlines has shut down permanently for the first time in 34 years, largely due to rising fuel costs that hindered their restructuring plans. This sudden closure has resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights, leaving many travelers uncertain about their future plans.
Interestingly, an initiative called “Let’s Buy Spirit” has emerged on social media, where regular folks are coming together in hopes of saving the airline. The website has seen overwhelming interest, leading to crashes on multiple occasions.
Even before experiencing technical difficulties, around 124,755 individuals expressed their intention to support the cause, with an astonishing unverified pledge total of $88,071,428. It’s worth noting that while no actual funds have changed hands yet, there’s a strong indication of a collective desire to acquire the airline.
The initiative was launched by Hunter Peterson, a voice actor. He posted his idea on social media, suggesting that if just 20% of the over 250 million adults in the U.S. contributed around $30 to $40—roughly the average cost of a Spirit ticket—they could potentially buy the company. His proposal? “Nationalize Spirit Airlines, which is owned by the people,” he stated.
Within hours of launching the idea, Peterson created a website for those interested and established an Instagram presence, which has already gathered 157,000 followers. The site indicates that in 2024, 44 million Americans are expected to utilize Spirit, while private equity firms are eyeing the situation closely.
“Before they lock up, the chances are slim that something that has never happened before in commercial aviation will happen. Passengers, workers, and the communities Spirit served can get it back,” the site claims, highlighting the community’s hope for a unique solution.
Peterson draws a comparison to the Green Bay Packers, an NFL franchise owned by its community shareholders. Each pledge to this initiative would grant holders a shared vote in the airline’s direction, promoting democratic governance where no single entity holds excessive power.
With a minimum pledge set at $45, the average commitment currently sits at $667. Peterson acknowledges that buying and reviving an airline would likely require billions, but he remains optimistic. He mentioned seeking assistance from aviation experts to navigate this complex venture.
“We know what we don’t know,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to the cause. He admitted it all began as a light-hearted idea that has since spiraled into something much larger.
Currently, the pledge feature on the website is disabled due to the site crashing, but those interested can still monitor developments. The site is expected to be fully operational again within 24 to 48 hours, with updates posted on the SpiritAir2.0 Instagram page.
