A low-cost airline that been operating in the state since 2017 will end its service at Bradley International Airport on Oct. 31, according to the company.
Spirit Airlines said its decision to end service from Hartford comes “as part of our ongoing restructuring, we have adjusted our upcoming schedule to focus on our strongest markets.
“This includes the difficult decision to discontinue service at Hartford (BDL), effective Oct. 31, 2025, and Minneapolis (MSP), effective Dec. 1, 2025,” the company said in a statement.
Spirit first started flying out of Bradley in 2017.
Spirit Airlines only earlier this year began a new direct flight between Bradley International Airport and Detroit Metro Airport in Michigan.
“We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience and will reach out to those with affected reservations to issue a refund,” a Spirit spokesperson said Monday in a statement.
A Spirit Airlines plane at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. (Spirit Airlines)
“We thank our airport, business and community partners in Connecticut and Minnesota for their support over the years. While we routinely evaluate and adjust our network as appropriate, we do not anticipate any additional airport exits in the near future.
The Connecticut Airport Authority. said Monday, when asked for a statement, that the authority had “been notified by Spirit Airlines that they will be ceasing operations at Bradley International Airport on October 31 in light of their ongoing bankruptcy restructuring and operational changes.
“Spirit Airlines has been an integral part of Bradley International Airport’s airline network over the last eight years,” the CAA spokesperson said. “We thank Spirit Airlines for their investment in the Hartford market and will be ready to welcome them back when their current circumstances change.”
Michael W. Shea, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority had said in June, “We greatly appreciate our partnership with Spirit Airlines and their continued investment in the Hartford region. The daily service to Detroit will give passengers more travel options at affordable fares.”
In March, low-cost Spirit Airlines, which had recently emerged from a bankruptcy reorganization, was plotting a new course, saying it would add two new nonstop destinations from Bradley International Airport later this year.
Spirit then was emerging from a tumultuous time in its history.
A proposed merger between Spirit and JetBlue was blocked last year after federal courts sided with government regulators agreeing that the combination violated antitrust laws. In November, Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection and also has fended off takeover overtures by rival Frontier Airlines as recently as February.
In 2023, Spirit canceled highly-touted, nonstop service to Jamaica from Bradley when bookings did not meet expected demand.
