{"id":786372,"date":"2026-05-10T11:01:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T11:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/786372\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T11:01:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T11:01:21","slug":"tiktok-creators-spirit-airlines-buyout-campaign-exceeds-335m-in-pledges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/786372\/","title":{"rendered":"TikTok creator’s Spirit Airlines buyout campaign exceeds $335M in pledges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

O\u2019Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O\u2019Leary discusses the shutdown of Spirit Airlines and the price New York City is paying for Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s policies on \u2018Varney & Co.\u2019<\/p>\n

One week after Spirit Airlines<\/a> shut down operations, a new campaign to save the budget carrier has gained traction online, with more than $335 million in pledges.<\/p>\n

TikTok creator Hunter Peterson posted a video<\/a> last weekend proposing a plan to purchase Spirit through crowdfunding.<\/p>\n

In the video, which has garnered more than 7 million views, Peterson suggested that if enough people contributed, the airline could be revived.<\/p>\n

“This is a genius idea: We nationalize Spirit Airlines, owned by the people. Airlines gone. We make a new airline,” he said.<\/p>\n

SPIRIT AIRLINES SHUTS DOWN IMMEDIATELY, STRANDING TRAVELERS: HERE\u2019S HOW TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Spirit <\/p>\n

Spirit Airlines jets sat on the tarmac as the company ceased operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 2, 2026. (GIORGIO VIERA\/AFP via Getty Images \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Shortly after posting the video, Peterson launched letsbuyspiritair.com, which as of Saturday night had raised at least $337 million in nonbinding pledges.<\/p>\n

The site allows users to pledge toward a proposed ownership stake in Spirit Airlines, though the contributions do not involve actual payments and instead reflect expressed interest.<\/p>\n

Peterson later said in a follow-up video that the idea was gaining momentum.<\/p>\n

“This started as a joke and this is rapidly going out of control in the best possible way,” Peterson said.<\/p>\n

SPIRIT AIRLINES LAWYER SAYS JET FUEL PRICE SURGE LEFT CARRIER WITH ‘NO REMAINING WAY OUT’ OF BANKRUPTCY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Spirit <\/p>\n

Spirit Airlines shut down operations after more than 30 years, prompting online efforts to revive the carrier through crowdfunding. (Spirit Airlines \/ Fox News)<\/p>\n

His proposal is largely modeled after the ownership structure of the Green Bay Packers, the NFL team<\/a> that is publicly owned.<\/p>\n

Spirit announced May 2 that it would cancel all flights and wind down operations<\/a> “effective immediately.”<\/p>\n

The airline said customers who booked directly with Spirit using a credit or debit card would be automatically refunded.<\/p>\n

UNITED FLIGHT CARRYING 221 PASSENGERS HITS POLE AND TRUCK ON APPROACH TO NEWARK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Spirit <\/p>\n

A Spirit Airlines commercial airliner flies after taking off from Las Vegas International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., February 8, 2024. (Mike Blake \/ Reuters)<\/p>\n

“All flights booked with credit and debit cards are in the process of being automatically refunded,” a spokesperson for Spirit told FOX Business. “The majority of guests who booked travel on a credit or debit card were refunded as of Saturday evening, with a small percentage continuing to process. Refunds may take time to appear in a guest\u2019s account.”<\/p>\n

Spirit said the shutdown followed failed restructuring efforts, citing rising fuel costs<\/a> and an inability to secure additional funding.<\/p>\n

“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry,” Spirit\u2019s President and CEO Dave Davis said in a statement.<\/p>\n

UNITED PILOT REPORTS MIDAIR DRONE SCARE NEAR AIRPORT DURING LANDING APPROACH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Jetblue <\/p>\n

A JetBlue airliner lands past a Spirit Airlines jet on taxi way at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport on Monday, April 25, 2022.\u00a0 (Joe Cavaretta\/Sun Sentinel\/Tribune News Service via Getty Images \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“\u2026 Sustaining the business required hundreds of millions of additional dollars<\/a> of liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could not procure,” Davis added. “This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted.”<\/p>\n

Customers who purchased tickets through third-party vendors, including travel agencies, were advised to contact those providers for refunds.<\/p>\n

Claims from passengers who booked flights using vouchers, travel credits or loyalty points will be handled through Spirit\u2019s bankruptcy process, the airline said.<\/p>\n

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

FOX Business has reached out to Spirit for comment.<\/p>\n

FOX Business’ Sophia Compton contributed to this report.<\/p>\n