Spirit Airlines’ Sudden Exit from CAE Leaves Columbia in Shock
- CUBNSC
- Sep 4
- 4 min read
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | September 4, 2025
Lexington, SC - When Spirit Airlines announced it would end its newly launched nonstop flights from Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) by October 2025, many in the Midlands region were left dumbfounded. Only a few months ago, Spirit had celebrated the introduction of its inaugural nonstop service—flights to Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and Orlando—marking Columbia as their third South Carolina destination. The move was billed as a game-changer for local travelers and the airport alike.
But fast-forward to today, and the announcement of a departure feels like a sucker punch. For many residents—tourism operators, airport staff, and frequent flyers alike—the sentiment is essentially: “What the h-ell? SMH.”
Spirit Airlines Ill-Fated Columbia Run
Spirit’s June 2025 debut at CAE raised expectations. It offered affordable, nonstop access to major hubs and leisure hotspots, promising both convenience and economic boost. CAE’s own VP of Marketing hailed the partnership as a long-term win for Columbia and the broader Midlands region.
Yet, in a swift reversal, Spirit announced its exit less than six months later, leaving locals reeling—not just over the lost routes, but over the stark unpredictability. It’s a blow at a time when airline service has already been tenuous at best.
Local Travel, National Turbulence
Columbia has never consistently attracted low-cost carriers. Past attempts by Allegiant, Vision, and others faltered. Still, the hope had been that new routes meant new opportunities—more visitors, more options, more growth.
Indeed, CAE’s passenger numbers have rebounded since the pandemic, topping around 1.36 million in 2024, up from a low of roughly 577,000 in 2020 according to numbers provided by CAE. Yet that recovery still falls short of 2005-level highs near 1.46 million, showing how fragile regional air travel remains.
Trump-Era Tourism Decline: The Bigger Picture
Spirit’s retreat isn’t happening in isolation—it mirrors a nationwide slide in inbound travel that coincides with a second Trump administration. Data reveals a sharp decline in overseas visitation attributed to tariffs, immigration crackdowns, and increased travel anxiety. Let’s look at the numbers:
In March 2025, overseas visits to the U.S. dropped nearly 12% compared to the prior year—with Western Europe down 17%, Central America 24%, the Caribbean 26%, and a dramatic 33% drop in travelers from Colombia.
One expert group forecasts a 9.4% overall decline in international arrivals in 2025, driven heavily by a projected 20.2% drop from Canadian visitors.
As a result, U.S. tourism stands to lose $9 billion or more in spending—a punishing blow to an industry that previously accounted for $1.3 trillion in economic activity and supported 15 million jobs.
Canada’s boycott trend is particularly alarming: bookings to the U.S. from Canada were down 40% year-over-year in February, and by March, air bookings had plunged 71–76%, with thousands of seats cut from bi-national routes.
Expedia reports U.S. bookings slipping 7% overall, and a sharp 30% drop in Canadian-to-U.S. bookings.
Key Drivers of Domestic Travel Downturn
Domestic travel demand is sliding too, driven by a mix of economic and social pressures:
Economic Uncertainty – Airlines reported a sudden drop in leisure bookings in early 2025, second only to COVID. Rising debt and recession fears have pushed families toward cheaper, local trips.
Tariffs & Trade Policies – New tariffs under the Trump administration rattled consumer confidence. Even hospitality leaders note early-year softness tied to tariff-driven anxieties.
Falling Airfares – Ticket prices dropped 5.3% year-over-year in March, signaling weak demand as airlines slash fares to fill planes.
Changing Travel Habits – Climate concerns and higher living costs are steering many Americans toward shorter, more sustainable vacations.
What Lies Ahead—and What We’ve Lost
Spirit’s departure from CAE stings—not just because of the loss of direct flights, but because it comes amid growing uncertainty about airline services in smaller markets. If travelers are avoiding the U.S., and airlines face financial and operational strain, fewer flights to places like Columbia may become the norm.
Add to that Spirit’s own financial troubles—its recent Chapter 11 filing and network downsizing—and it’s clear the spotlight isn’t just on Columbia. It’s a national concern: affordable, accessible air service could shrink further.
The economic stakes are high. Across the U.S., commercial air service generates billions in local impact, supporting jobs, wages, and tax revenues. Studies of other regional airports show that even a single daily route can produce more than $40 million in annual output and over 125 jobs. When low-cost carriers pull back, communities lose not only connectivity but also the steady stream of passenger spending on hotels, restaurants, and rentals. In Australia, the collapse of one budget carrier translated to a $100 million hit to local tourism in just months.
For Columbia, Spirit’s sudden retreat is more than an inconvenience—it’s a direct threat to growth, tourism, and competitiveness. Losing those flights weakens the Midlands’ visibility as a destination and diminishes opportunities for residents seeking affordable options. The surprise exit is a reminder that air service is not guaranteed—and that the loss of even a handful of flights can ripple through an entire economy.
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