Greetings from Austin! I’m fresh off of a whirlwind trip to New York so you may have noticed a lull in posting the first part of this week. Hopefully I made up for that on the back end as there was plenty of news to keep me busy.
The bombshell came late on Friday when The Air Current reported that Spirit may not have enough cash on hand to survive the weekend, though that report has been disputed. Couple that with JetBlue unveiling its first lounge, and Southwest making a major investment in Austin, and you get a very busy news cycle to close out the week.
All of that, and more, in the ATX Jetsetter weekly recap for the week ending December 13, 2025.
Is the Collapse of Spirit Imminent?
Spirit Airlines is reportedly on the brink of collapse, with the carrier’s future tied to the release of $100 million in funding that will only be released by the bankruptcy court if plans for a sale or a standalone reorganization plan with acceptable terms to lenders are presented by a December 13, 2025 deadline.
Spirit has stated that the rumors are unfounded but multiple airlines are preparing for an upcoming cessation of operations by the Florida based ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC).
Southwest Announces Austin Crew Base, Plans to Add 2,000 Jobs
Southwest Airlines is doubling down on its Central Texas footprint, announcing a new Pilot and Flight Attendant base at AUS which will open in March 2026. The new facility will bring up to 2,000 jobs, expanded training facilities, and even more nonstop routes as Austin’s largest airline charts its next phase of growth. Delta will certainly be watching.
JetBlue is Opening its First Lounge at New York-JFK
JetBlue has just unveiled its first ever lounge, BlueHouse, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The new lounge will be restricted to the carrier’s top tier elites, transatlantic Business Class passengers, and premium credit card holders when it opens on December 18, 2025.
Aer Lingus is Launching Flights Between Dublin and Pittsburgh
Aer Lingus is launching year-round, 4x weekly flights between Dublin and Pittsburgh in May 2026 using Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The Irish flag carrier joins British Airways in offering transatlantic service from the Pennsylvania city.
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Summary
While I took the first part of the week off, it was a busy news week in the travel and aviation space. We are all watching Spirit Airlines closely to see if the airline receives the funding to continue operating. If that doesn’t happen, the fallout will likely complicate travel plans for quite a few folks this holiday season. As always, thank you for checking out the weekly recap for the week ended December 13, 2025!