In less than two years, struggling budget carrier Spirit Airlines predicts its operations will be profitable once again.
The carrier, which is in the middle of a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring in less than a year, said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that it expects to post its first full-year profit in eight years in 2027, according to Reuters.
In the document, Spirit said that in 2027, it predicts an annual profit of $219 million, which would mark its annual profit since before the pandemic in 2019.
Getting to that point, however, might prove difficult. The company said that in 2025, it expects to post a loss of $804 million. It also predicted a smaller—but still significant—loss in 2026, to the tune of $145 million.
As part of its bankruptcy process, the budget airline has been making efforts to reduce its operational costs and raise cash needed to stay in business. It has slashed its November flight schedule by 25%, canceled leases on dozens of planes, furloughed crew, and is pulling its slots from airports around the U.S.
In another hopeful sign for the airline, federal bankruptcy court recently approved a $475 million payment from Spirit’s existing bondholders to keep the carrier afloat as it fights to return to profitability. "With these approvals in place, we are better equipped to build a stronger airline that delivers unmatched value to American consumers,” Spirit CEO Dave Davis said.
Low-cost carriers have been on uncertain footing throughout 2025 due to economic headwinds like tariffs that spooked price-sensitive fliers who usually book into domestic economy class. Those challenges have since improved, with many airlines stating demand for their cheaper seats has become positive once again.
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