Even as competing airlines continue to increase their presence in Central Florida, Spirit Airlines has significantly reduced its footprint at Orlando International Airport (MCO), cutting more than 1,000 flights in May compared to the same month last year.
Spirit plans to operate 2,173 flights (436,031 seats) from Orlando in May 2026, according to data analyzed by Orlando Business Journal based on Cirium Aviation Analytics. This is a nearly 40% decrease from the 3,613 flights (693,736 seats) in May 2025.
A spokesperson for the Dania Beach-based airline said the job cuts are related to its ongoing restructuring efforts following multiple bankruptcy filings, including Chapter 11 proceedings in November 2024 and August 2025.
“As part of our ongoing restructuring, we have aligned our network with our latest operational scale and made adjustments to focus on our best-performing routes,” the spokesperson said, adding that Orlando will continue to offer nonstop service to nearly 30 destinations.
Spirit’s parent company, Spirit Aviation Holdings, previously announced plans to reduce its debt from $7.4 billion to $2 billion and emerge from bankruptcy by mid-2026. This strategy includes downsizing our fleet and concentrating our services on core markets such as Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and the New York City area.
But the airline’s future remains uncertain. Bloomberg reports that Spirit is considering a $500 million financing package to stabilize its operations, but sources suggest liquidation remains a possibility if restructuring efforts are insufficient.
Other airlines also expanded due to MCO
While Spirit is leaving, other airlines are ramping up service at Orlando International Airport.
Breeze Airways recorded the biggest increase, increasing its flights by 62% year-on-year. The airline plans to operate 1,104 flights (150,088 seats) from Orlando this May, up from 678 flights (92,886 seats) in May 2025.
A Breeze spokesperson said Orlando is currently the airline’s second-largest market in terms of seats and flights. The airline offers nonstop flights to destinations such as Key West, Pensacola and New Orleans, as well as targeting underserved cities such as Brownsville, Texas. Norfolk, Virginia. and Ogdensburg, New York.
Founded by David Neeleman, who also founded JetBlue Airways and Azul Brazilian Airlines, Breeze positions itself as a “premium but affordable” airline, offering low fares and perks like free Wi-Fi and snacks.
Other airlines also increased MCO capacity in May.
Southwest Airlines: 15% increase to 9,795 flights (approximately 1.6 million seats) Delta Airlines: 6% increase to 3,754 flights (713,636 seats) Frontier Airlines: 11% increase to 3,247 flights (676,674 seats)
Orlando International Airport’s overall seating capacity increased by 1.7% compared to May 2025, according to airport officials.
Passenger numbers continue to increase
Despite the changing landscape in the airline industry, MCO passenger numbers remain strong. The airport reported about 58.2 million passengers in the 12 months to March, an increase of nearly 3% year-on-year.
MCO currently serves more than 116 cities across the country and is ranked 10th in the United States. It also flies internationally to 57 destinations, ranking it 12th in the United States.
Uncertainty surrounding Spirit’s future
Concerns about Spirit’s long-term viability continue to grow. The airline will carry more than 6 million passengers through Orlando in 2025, making it the airport’s third-largest airline, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. Hundreds of pilots and flight attendants are also based in central Florida.
Bloomberg reported that Spirit may be on the verge of liquidation due to financial pressures such as rising fuel costs and restructuring challenges. The airline has not confirmed these reports and would not comment on the speculation, saying only that operations will continue as normal.
Travel experts are warning passengers not to preemptively cancel existing reservations. Cancellation may result in loss of eligibility for refund. Alternatively, travelers may have options available through travel insurance policies that include credit card dispute and certain travel insurance policies, particularly financial default coverage, although such protection often depends on when the policy was purchased.
For now, Spirit’s reduced schedule and the possibility of even more significant reductions are adding uncertainty to Orlando’s air travel market, even as competing airlines are actively working to capture demand.
