The U.S. government could move beyond a standard bailout to an outright acquisition of Spirit Airlines, according to President Donald Trump.
Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 protection in bankruptcy court last year in August 2025 and previously in November 2024.
"We’re thinking about doing it ... helping them out," Trump said of Spirit this week. "I think we’d just buy it. We’d be getting it virtually debt-free."
The president gave his remarks about the budget carrier to reporters on April 23 from the Oval Office.
During a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing in New York, Spirit Airlines attorney Marshall Huebner said that government financing would make a reorganization possible and help Spirit be more competitive.
Direct loans, preferred stock, and grants are the most common tools of a standard government bailout.
“They have some good aircraft, some good assets, and when the price of oil goes down, sell it for a profit. I'd love to be able to save those jobs. I'd love to be able to save the airline.”
Dave Davis is the current president and chief executive officer of Spirit Airlines; however, Trump disclosed he has someone in mind to lead the airline post-acquisition.
“We have somebody that wants to run it, and will do a good job, a smart person, and if they run it properly and if prices come down all of a sudden, it's a valuable asset and there's some very good slots, too,” Trump said.
Slots are scheduled times that airlines employ to take off or land at airports when capacity is limited due to demand.
Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council chair Capt. Ryan Muller expressed strong support for a deal with the government.
“Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation,” Muller said. “When Spirit enters a market, fares go down.”
Spirit’s key airports include Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO), Detroit (DTW), Las Vegas (LAS), Newark (EWR), Houston (IAH), and Miami (MIA).
Trump told CNBC reporters on Tuesday that if a buyer were to rescue the airline, the federal government would potentially provide assistance.
“Spirit's in trouble and I'd love somebody to buy Spirit,” he said. “It's 14,000 jobs and maybe the federal government should help that one out, I tell my people.”
“Then who else comes to my door?” Duffy said. “The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that inevitably is going to be liquidated?”