Newsweek reached out to Peterson for comment. While Spirit Airlines declined to comment, the company clarified that the campaign is not affiliated with or endorsed by Spirit Airlines in any way.

Why It Matters

While Spirit Airlines was often mocked for its fees and cramped seats, the larger reaction to its shutdown suggests that Spirit also played a major role in keeping air travel affordable for millions of people.

Ultra‑low‑cost carriers like Spirit often place a powerful downward pressure on ticket prices across markets, even for passengers who never fly them directly. With Spirit gone, many travelers fear fewer cheap options and less competition.

When Did Spirit Airlines Shut Down?

Spirit Airlines ceased operations overnight on May 2, grounding its fleet, canceling all flights, and advising passengers not to go to the airport. 

Videos from Spirit’s final flights captured emotional farewells from pilots and crew members, including a widely shared video of a pilot thanking passengers for their support as aircraft landed shortly before the shutdown deadline. 

“Made a lot of friends along the way, had some great conversations with some of you over the 14 years,” the pilot said in the now viral video. “Had some not so great conversations occasionally, a lot of crazy stuff has happened but it’s funny as we sit here, I’ll speak for myself, I don’t remember any of the bad times just the good ones.” 

The closures also left thousands of employees suddenly out of work and stranded travelers scrambling to rebook on other airlines.

Why Did Spirit Shut Down?

Spirit’s shutdown followed years of financial strain, including multiple bankruptcy filings and failed merger attempts with airlines JetBlue and Frontier.

While Spirit’s low‑cost model helped push fares down across the industry, it also left the airline particularly vulnerable to cost shocks. The airline’s margins were already thin before a failed $500 million government rescue package pushed the company into an immediate shutdown.

Spirit itself acknowledged that it could no longer continue operating without additional funding.

“The sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the company,” Spirit Airlines President and CEO Dave Davis said earlier this week.

Who Is Behind the Viral Campaign?

The “Let’s Buy Spirit” campaign was launched by Hunter Peterson, a Los Angeles–based voice actor and YouTuber who posts under the name Hi There Hunter.

Peterson floated the idea in a TikTok video shortly after Spirit shut down, joking that if a fraction of American adults each chipped in the price of a typical Spirit ticket, or around $30 to $40, the public could collectively buy the airline. 

He later created a website, LetsBuySpiritAir.com, to register pledges.

Now, what started as a joke quickly escalated. The website crashed multiple times due to traffic surges.

How Many Planes Did Spirit Airlines Have?

Before shutting down, Spirit operated a fleet of roughly 200 aircraft, primarily Airbus A320‑family jets. The planes, many of which are now parked at storage facilities, represented one of the largest ultra‑low‑cost fleets in North America.

Restarting operations with those aircraft would require billions of dollars in capital, federal regulatory approval, and years of operational work.

“This is a noble effort to help a low-cost carrier stave off bankruptcy, but let’s call it what it is; this is merely symbolic. There’s an old saying: if you want to become a millionaire, start as a billionaire and invest in an airline,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.

“The average investor doesn’t understand the economics of this industry. Margins are razor thin, capital requirements are massive, and profitability is fleeting at best. Every airline operates closer to the edge than people realize.”

Can Spirit Airlines Come Back?

Industry experts don’t believe the viral campaign can realistically bring Spirit back as a functioning airline. Even if the pledges were converted into real capital, which is not happening yet, the amounts raised so far fall far short of what would be required to purchase assets, secure FAA certification, and hire staff.

However, for many, the campaign is further proof that consumers value cheap air travel and currently feel shut out of decisions reshaping the industry.

“Even as the pledged funds reach $100 million, that is only about 3 percent to 5 percent of what Spirit’s creditors will need to consider moving forward.  And these are non-binding pledges—anyone is free to ‘pledge’ whatever amount they want and never actually pay,” Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek.

However, Powers said the campaign underscores the need for more affordable air travel.  

“On the personal budget side, individuals and families will scrimp and save in a million places before they give up their vacations. As inflation continues to cut into a household’s spending power, a budget airline becomes even more important to travelers,” Powers said.

What Happens Next

The “Let’s Buy Spirit” campaign will likely remain a viral moment, capturing public grief over the loss of one of the country’s most affordable airlines.

“People care because this isn’t just about planes and ticket prices. This is about jobs. Hundreds, potentially thousands of livelihoods tied to one company. That matters,” Thompson said.

“As it stands, Spirit has announced plans to liquidate after multiple failed Chapter 11 attempts. At this point, the outcome looks less like a turnaround story and more like the end of the line.”