ORF vacationers in search of alternate journey plans after Spirit shuts down

NORFOLK, Va. — Spirit Airlines introduced early Saturday that it was ceasing all operations, leaving some vacationers at Norfolk International Airport with out flights and scrambling for alternate options.

The Spirit Airlines ticket counter at Norfolk International Airport was empty Saturday after the announcement. Ronald Newsome and Tyana Brooks had been presupposed to fly on a Spirit flight from Norfolk to Orlando for trip. They mentioned they discovered concerning the closure from social media.

“It’s actually very frustrating, honestly, I feel like. I mean, nobody really said anything,” Newsome mentioned.

“Yeah, definitely salty. Only because of how we found out, I feel like. We found out from TikTok,” Newsome and Brooks mentioned.

Newsome and Brooks had been supposed to satisfy household from different states in Orlando for a cruise. They say they weren’t the one ones happening the journey who booked a flight with Spirit Airlines.

“My mom just found out. Her flight is tomorrow, and she just found out this morning, so she is on her way to the airport too–to Philadelphia airport–to try to find out something last minute,” Newsome and Brooks mentioned.

Spirit Airlines cited the “recent material increase in oil prices” and “other pressures on the business” as key components in its resolution to close down. CBS News reported the closure got here after the price range provider did not safe a $500 million federal bailout.

Norfolk International Airport solely supplied Spirit flights to and from the Orlando and Fort Lauderdale hubs. A Norfolk International Airport spokesperson mentioned, “The positive aspect of this closure is ORF has other airlines that serve the two markets to which Spirit had been flying (Orlando and Fort Lauderdale).”

Newsome and Brooks are scrambling to choose a type of different choices, and mentioned they could even contemplate driving to Florida.

“A lot of people said on social media that Southwest was like trying to help out forSpirit, and I think Frontier too, are like trying to help people who need last minute bookings,” Newsome and Brooks mentioned.

According to CBS News, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and DeltaAirlines all introduced diminished fares for affected Spirit vacationers.

Spirit Airlines mentioned it would routinely refund anybody who had a Spirit flight booked.

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