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Spirit Airlines will discontinue Milwaukee service in 2026

Spirit Airlines will end service at the Milwaukee airport Jan. 8 after filing for bankruptcy twice in the past year

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A bright yellow Spirit Airlines airplane takes off from a runway with mountains and clouds in the background.
A Spirit Airlines plane takes off from a runway. Photo courtesy of Spirit Airlines

After filing for bankruptcy twice in the past year, Spirit Airlines will stop providing service at the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport early next year.

The low-cost airline announced the decision in a statement this week, calling it part of an effort to “better position the airline for the future” as it reduces its fleet and focuses on stronger markets.

Spirit will discontinue its service in Milwaukee effective Jan. 8. The airline is also discontinuing service at airports in Phoenix, Rochester and St. Louis the same day. 

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“We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience and will reach out to those with affected travel plans to notify them of their options, including a refund,” Spirit Airlines said in a statement. “Thank you to our partners and guests in these communities for their support over the years.”

The move comes after Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2024 and again in August 2025

In September, Spirit announced that it received approval from a judge to continue operating as it undergoes a financial restructuring. 

“With these approvals in place and access to the many new tools now available to us, we can continue to implement our transformation to build a stronger foundation and future for Spirit,” Spirit Airlines CEO Dave Davis said in a Sept. 3 statement.

The Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport says Spirit currently offers flights from Milwaukee to Orlando.

After Jan. 8, Milwaukee will still have nonstop service to Orlando via Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines, an airport spokesperson said in a statement.

Through September, the number of passengers at the Milwaukee airport is down from last year. The airport saw more than 4.4 million passengers from January through September, down from more than 4.8 million during the same period in 2024.

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