Spirit Airlines, which once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes and employed about 17,000 people, said it had “started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately”.

The major airline known for offering budget flights said on its website that all flights have been cancelled and customer service is no longer available.

“We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,” the announcement said.

Spirit Airlines shuts down after 34 years – how to get refunds

If you’ve booked flights with Spirit Airlines to US hotspots, you might wonder what you should do to secure a refund.

The company told customers that they could expect refunds, but there would be no help in booking travel on other airlines.

It warned its customers not to arrive at airports following the cancellation of all its flights.

To check your refund status, you’ll need to log on to the website or search for your trip.

The shutdown was expected after Friday came and went without a needed government bailout for the cash-strapped business.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that his administration had given the budget carrier a “final proposal” for a taxpayer-funded takeover to keep it from going under, but a deal was not reached.

Mr Trump floated the idea of a bailout last week after the airline found itself in bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in less than two years, with jet fuel prices soaring because of the Iran war.

17,000 jobs could be affected by Spirit Airlines’ collapse

Spirit lawyer Marshall Huebner said that about 17,000 jobs could be impacted by a shutdown.

Spirit has struggled financially since the Covid-19 pandemic, weighed down by rising operating costs and growing debt.

By the time it filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024, the airline had lost more than 2.5 billion dollars since the start of 2020.

The budget carrier sought bankruptcy protection again in August 2025, when it reported having 8.1 billion dollars in debts and 8.6 billion dollars in assets, according to court filings.

Supporters of a rescue, including labour unions representing Spirit’s pilots, flight attendants and ramp workers, said a collapse would put thousands of Americans out of work and hurt consumers by reducing airline competition and increasing airfares.

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Where did Spirit fly passengers to?

Budget-conscious and leisure travellers would likely feel Spirit’s absence the most, especially in places where the airline has a big footprint, such as Las Vegas and the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

The carrier flew about 1.7 million domestic passengers in February, roughly half a million fewer than during the same month a year earlier, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Spirit also has sharply reduced its capacity, with about half as many seats available this month than in May 2024.

The Real Greek will be keeping a total of 19 locations open (out of a possible 28), after Japanese restaurant group Toridoll, the owner of The Real Greek’s previous parent company, Fulham Shore, was placed into administration.

Cote owner Karali Group confirmed on Friday (May 1) that it had struck a rescue deal for the business.

Although more than 100 jobs will be lost, the new owner said it will secure the future of 358 workers.

Industry publication Propel reported that The Real Greek’s central kitchen will also be closed.

The restaurant chain’s website shares: “At The Real Greek, we believe food is more than what’s on the plate, it’s a feeling.

“Rooted in the flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean, our menu celebrates the dishes you’ll find in homes and tavernas across Greece.

“From flame-grilled souvlaki and traditional meze to fresh salads, warm flatbread and time-honoured recipes, everything we serve is designed to be shared.

“Simple ingredients. Bold flavours. Honest cooking.”

It adds: “But what truly defines us is filoxenia, the Greek philosophy of heartfelt hospitality.

“It’s about generosity, warmth and making every guest feel welcome, like they’ve stepped into someone’s home rather than just a restaurant.

“We bring people together over dishes that take you to Greece.

“Whether you’re gathering for a celebration, a casual catch-up or a spontaneous midweek meal, our aim is always the same: to create moments worth sharing.”

Which Real Greek restaurants are closing in the UK?

The Real Greek restaurants closing across the country, according to the BBC, are as follows:

• Spitalfields, London
• Westfield, London
• Dulwich Village
• Bristol
• Strand, London
• Solihull
• Gloucester Quays
• Glasgow
• Edinburgh

Full list of The Real Greek locations remaining open after rescue deal

However, these are The Real Greek sites that will stay open:

• Bankside, London
• Bluewater
• Bournemouth
• Bracknell
• Braintree
• Covent Garden, London
• Liverpool
• Manchester – Corn Exchange
• Manchester – Trafford Centre
• Marylebone, London
• Norwich
• Sheffield Meadowhall
• Soho, London
• Southampton
• St Martin’s Lane, London
• St Paul’s, London
• Tower Bridge, London
• Westfield, Stratford City
• Windsor

Last month, Fulham Shore said it was reviewing future options for the Greek restaurant chain.

It announced the review as it launched a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) restructuring process for sister restaurant brand Franco Manca, which will see it shut 16 venues with the loss of 225 jobs.

What happens when a company goes into administration?

Marcel Khan, chief executive of Fulham Shore, said: “The transaction will ensure that the business is placed on a more sustainable footing for the future, while allowing The Fulham Shore to focus its energy and investment behind Franco Manca and its significant growth potential.

“We’re pleased to be handing it over to Karali with real momentum.

“We will now do everything we can to support colleagues affected by this process and believe that both the brand and its teams will be in very good hands as the business moves into its next chapter.”

Toridoll said earlier on Friday that The Real Greek had suffered more due to current poor trading conditions.

It said: “In recent years, high levels of inflation in the UK, driven by rising energy and food prices together with increase in labour costs resulting from rises in the minimum wage, have created a more challenging operating environment for the hospitality industry than initially anticipated.”

Toridoll added: “The deterioration in the economic environment has had a more significant impact on the Greek restaurant brand The Real Greek than on the Franco Manca business.”

Fulham Shore was bought by Toridoll, with backing from investment firm Capdesia, in 2023 for £93.4 million.

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Paul Berkovi, managing director at administrators Alvarez & Marsal, said: “We have worked closely with The Real Greek’s management team and are pleased to have completed a transaction that secures a future for a restaurant group enjoyed by diners over many years.

“Our immediate focus as administrators will be to provide a smooth transition for the business and to support employees affected by site closures.

“We are grateful to all stakeholders for their constructive engagement throughout this process.”

Newsquest has contacted The Real Greek for comment.

Nationwide Building Society has once again come out on top as the UK’s most switched-to current account provider, with its £100 “Fairer Share” payment playing a key role in attracting customers.

The building society has handed out the bonus for three years running — and says it hopes to do so again.

£100 payments year after year

Unlike traditional banks, Nationwide says it can return more money to customers because it has no shareholders.

Tom Riley from Nationwide Building Society said: “Because we don’t have shareholders, we can give more back to our members.”

He added: “That’s why we’ve paid our £100 Fairer Share to eligible members for the last three years and hope to do so again this year.”

Switching boom as customers hunt value

New figures show bank switching is surging, with more than 319,000 switches in the first three months of 2026 – up 43% on the same period last year.

The data from Current Account Switch Service highlights a growing trend of customers moving accounts in search of better deals, perks and savings.

Nationwide led the way with over 64,000 net gains, far ahead of rivals.

Big banks losing customers

While Nationwide gained, several major banks saw significant losses:

• Halifax lost over 25,000 customers
• HSBC saw losses of more than 20,000
• Santander UK dropped nearly 24,000

Meanwhile, Barclays and Lloyds Bank were the next strongest performers behind Nationwide.

Why more people are switching

Experts say the cost-of-living squeeze is pushing more people to rethink their banking.

Rachel Springall from Moneyfacts said: “It is incredibly positive to see more consumers vote with their feet and ditch their current account.”

She added: “Consumers may struggle with the cost of living and need to quickly find ways to make their money go further, so switching a current account could be a wise move.”

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Is switching really that easy?

Despite concerns, the process is designed to be simple.

The switching service automatically moves payments and guarantees customers will not lose money if anything goes wrong.

In fact, around 90% of users say they are satisfied with the process.