A viral social media campaign has garnered over $337 million in non-binding pledges from more than 371,000 supporters aiming to acquire and revive Spirit Airlines after its abrupt shutdown last week.
Viral Push to Nationalize Spirit Airlines
Content creator Hunter Pearson ignited the movement with a TikTok video proposing that Americans collectively purchase the budget carrier. “I had a genius idea,” Pearson stated. “Spirit Airlines just went bankrupt. If we took only 20 percent of the more than 250 million adults in the United States and paid the average Spirit fare of $30 to $40, we could buy Spirit Airlines.”
He envisioned a people-owned airline, free from traditional corporate pressures. Spirit halted all operations on May 2, leaving planes in the air. Passengers who booked directly with credit or debit cards receive automatic refunds.
“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has pioneered accessible travel, affordability, and connectivity,” said President and CEO Dave Davis. “This outcome disappoints everyone involved.”
The airline faced prolonged financial struggles, filing for bankruptcy twice before the shutdown. Pearson quickly launched letsbuyspirit.com, where pledges start at $45 per ticket. “Spirit didn’t fail because people stopped flying,” the site explains. “It failed because Wall Street loaded it with debt and extracted every dollar.”
Green Bay Packers Model for Ownership
The initiative draws inspiration from the Green Bay Packers, the NFL’s only community-owned team with 360,000 public shares. “No billionaire can move the team. No hedge fund can gut it,” the site notes. Spirit 2.0 promises democratic governance: one vote per verified member, regardless of pledge size, for decisions on routes, leadership, and strategy.
Pledges mark the first phase, now complete. Pearson advances legal structures next. Mutiny, a platform empowering public ownership in brands, has partnered to support the effort. “Mutiny helps regular people move markets, build brands, and own what they believe in,” its site states.
The alliance sparked online backlash, with some supporters withdrawing pledges over concerns about Mutiny CEO Jay Davis. Comments included: “I’m out. This got way too corporate,” and “If Jay Davis is involved, I’m out.”
Proposal to Transform Headquarters into High School
Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback offers an alternative: convert Spirit’s 180,000-square-foot Dania Beach headquarters into the Spirit Aviation and Aerospace High School for 5,000 students.
“It has classrooms, training space, flight simulators, computers, a cafeteria, and a gym—perfectly located,” Fishback described at a press conference before former employees. The $250 million facility, completed in 2024, now faces sale through Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Fishback urges state funding to honor laid-off workers serving Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties. The idea drew mixed reactions online, with critics labeling it virtue signaling: “Spirit was an awful company. You seem like another politician signaling.”
A Collier County school board member praised the plan for practical skills training leading to high-paying aviation jobs starting at $150,000-$175,000 annually. Fishback proposes public-private funding, targeting 80% from firms like SpaceX and Blue Origin. “I’d call Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to invest in talent pipelines,” he said.
Aviation lawyer Barry Janay confirms feasibility: “The state can purchase if secured creditors and a judge approve.” Fishback vows to pursue the project regardless of the election outcome.
