logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
19m 2s

How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL & GIMLET
About this episode

For years, Spirit Airlines soared with a low-cost, no-frills business model. This week, it came in for a bumpy landing. WSJ's Alison Sider explains how the big airlines learned to compete with Spirit––and helped put the carrier in bankruptcy.


Further Listening:

-The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines 

-Frontier, Spirit and the Future of Low-Cost Airlines 


Further Reading:

-How Spirit Airlines Went From Industry Maverick to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy 

-Discount Airline Spirit Files for Bankruptcy 


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Jul 14
Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue
Last week, Grok went rogue. The AI chatbot – which users can interact with on X – posted antisemitic comments and graphic descriptions of violence before being deactivated, leaving users with a question: Where were Grok’s guardrails? WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy breaks down what happen ... Show More
22m 52s
Jul 11
Can Superman Save Warner?
The man of steel is back in a new $225 million reboot. Riding on this weekend’s release is the hope that DC Studios will finally begin to match the past successes of its archrival Marvel. Its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery views DC Studios as critical to its success or fai ... Show More
22m 36s
Jul 10
Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin
For years, President Trump has feuded with the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates. And now, two Republicans named Kevin (Kevin Hassett, one of Trump’s closest economic advisers and Kevin Warsh—a former Fed governor) are vying to be the next chairman of th ... Show More
22m 47s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Why Are Airline Rewards So Complicated?
Frequent flyer programs began as a way for airlines to build loyalty and fill empty seats. They’ve since morphed into a complex financial ecosystem that’s drawn the ire of even the most savvy consumers and the scrutiny of the US Department of Transportation.   Bloomberg’s global ... Show More
13m 59s
Mar 2025
Captain Sherry Walker Reveals the Real Reason for All These Plane Crashes
Sherry Walker has been a commercial airline pilot for almost 35 years. She says DEI has so completely undermined safety standards that pilots are sometimes afraid to leave the cockpit for fear of what their co-pilots will do unattended. (00:00) Why Are All These Planes Crashing?( ... Show More
1h 29m
Jun 14
What’s News in Markets: Warner Bros. Discovery Breakup, Smucker Sinks, Boeing Woes
What did investors make of Warner Bros. Discovery’s split? And what soured J.M. Smucker’s quarter? Plus, how did a deadly plane crash in India affect Boeing? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's f ... Show More
5m 43s
Feb 2025
Chinese Airlines Breaking Through Turbulence
Our Hong Kong/China Transportation & Infrastructure Analyst Qianlei Fan explains why a resurgence in air travel is leading China’s emergence from deflation. ----- Transcript ----- Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I’m Qianlei Fan, Morgan Stanley’s Hong Kong/China Transportation ... Show More
4m 55s
Jun 2020
“Who wants to buy Chuck E. Cheese?”
United Airlines and American Airlines are reportedly set to raise more than $8 billion to keep their balance sheets stable. Dan Kline analyzes the industry and shares why investors shouldn’t be tempted by the “value trap” prices of airline stocks. Plus, we discuss TripAdvisor’s l ... Show More
16m 30s
Aug 2024
Major U.S. Indexes Post Mixed Results Ahead of Fresh Economic Data
Investors take a breather after last week’s roller coaster while awaiting data on inflation and retail sales. Plus: JetBlue Airways shares fall after a downgrade from the Big Three credit ratings firms. Danny Lewis hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn ... Show More
2m 25s
Nov 2024
Airlines Bet You’ll Pay More for Premium Travel Options
Nov. 29 Edition. WSJ’s Alison Sider explains how this week’s air-travel crush is likely to cement the shift toward an upselling model that has helped United and Delta dominate industry profits. Plus, Canada’s antitrust watchdog sues Google, saying it acted unlawfully in growing i ... Show More
13m 40s
May 10
What’s News in Markets: Disney Shines, Cleveland-Cliffs Slides, Boeing Climbs
Why did Disney’s Middle East expansion wow investors? And how is steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs slowing down its operations? Plus, how did Boeing benefit from the U.S.-U.K. trade agreement? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove ... Show More
5m 26s