A grassroots online campaign to revive Spirit Airlines has gained significant traction, with tens of thousands of supporters pledging millions of dollars to bring the defunct carrier back under community ownership.
The effort, known as “Let’s Buy Spirit,” was launched by Los Angeles-based voice actor and YouTuber Hunter Peterson shortly after the airline ceased operations on May 2. What began as a lighthearted idea on social media quickly evolved into a widespread online movement, drawing roughly $88 million in nonbinding pledges as of Monday.
By Monday afternoon, the campaign website, LetsBuySpiritAir.com, had crashed due to site overload, and pledges were temporarily paused.
“The movement grew so fast it overwhelmed our servers. We are upgrading infrastructure right now and will be back with full pledge functionality within 24–48 hours,” the website states.
Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down, canceling all flights and advising passengers not to go to the airport. The closure followed years of financial difficulties, including bankruptcy filings, failed merger attempts, and rising fuel costs, The Dallas Express reported.
“The sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the company,” Spirit Airlines President and CEO Dave Davis said earlier this week, per Newsweek.
The shutdown left thousands of employees without jobs and forced travelers to scramble for alternative flights. It also prompted a wave of emotional reactions online, including videos from the airline’s final flights.
In one widely shared clip, a pilot reflected on his time with the company: “Made a lot of friends along the way, had some great conversations with some of you over the 14 years,” he said. “Had some not-so-great conversations occasionally, a lot of crazy stuff has happened, but it’s funny as we sit here, I’ll speak for myself, I don’t remember any of the bad times, just the good ones.”
Peterson’s proposal suggests turning Spirit into a publicly owned company, modeled after a community-based system in which contributors would have a say in major decisions. Supporters have been asked to pledge hypothetical contributions, typically in the range of a typical Spirit ticket price, though no money has been collected.
Despite the surge in interest, experts widely agree the plan is unlikely to succeed given the high cost of acquiring and operating an airline. Spirit Airlines has also stated that the campaign is not affiliated with or endorsed by the company.
Still, the response highlights broader concerns among travelers about the state of the airline industry. Ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit have historically helped keep fares down, even for passengers who do not fly with them directly. With its departure, many fear fewer budget-friendly options and reduced competition.
The campaign has also underscored frustration over rising ticket prices and a shift among major airlines toward premium offerings. For many supporters, the idea represents more than a business venture — it reflects a desire for more accessible air travel.
While the future of the effort remains uncertain, the surge in pledges signals a strong public reaction to the loss of one of the country’s most prominent low-cost airlines.
