Trump administration, Spirit Airlines in advanced discussions over bailout

U.S. Trump administration and Spirit Airlines in advanced discussions over bailout, sources say By Kris Van Cleave Kris Van Cleave Kris Van Cleave Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms. Read Full Bio Kris Van Cleave Updated on: April 22, 2026 / 12:40 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The Trump administration is in advanced discussions with budget carrier Spirit Airlines about a bailout, sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS News. The financing package could include a loan of up to $500 million, in exchange for warrants that would allow the federal government to take a potentially substantial ownership stake in the beleaguered airline, the sources said. The deal is not done and is subject to change, but could be finalized imminently, the sources said. The negotiations were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.The talks come after Mr. Trump weighed in publicly Tuesday, suggesting that while he preferred another airline acquire Spirit, he wanted his administration to look at a rescue package.   A spokesperson for Spirit Airlines declined to comment, and said that the carrier was operating as normal. The Department of Transportation also declined to comment. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Tuesday that, while no decision had been made, "the clock is ticking." While the federal government has stepped in to help the airline industry broadly in the aftermath of 9/11 and during the Covid pandemic, propping up a single carrier is an unusual move.  "A lot of people work for Spirit. We care about the people that work for Spirit in this industry," Duffy told CBS News. "The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that...