Spirit Airlines is an ultra-low-cost carrier based in the United States. The airline services 83 destinations throughout the Americas, operating over 200 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family. You may have heard the saying that if you fly on Spirit Airlines, “you’ll become a spirit.” This saying, which has been popular online for many years, implies that you would pass away if you flew on Spirit Airlines. However, contrary to popular belief, Spirit Airlines is extremely safe.
To start, air travel in general is considered very safe. In fact, among the 32.2 million flights in 2022, there were just five fatal accidents. According to the International Air Transport Association, “flying is among the safest activities in which a person can engage” (IATA Press Release No: 7). However, since Spirit Airlines is a low-cost airline, it gets a reputation as being unsafe, which is simply not true. According to AirlineRatings, a site that ranks the world’s airlines by safety and passenger reviews, Spirit Airlines hasn’t had fatalities in over ten years or any major incidents in the past five years. In fact, Spirit has never had a fatal crash in its history. These statistics give Spirit similar ratings to some of the most popular airlines like United, American, and Delta. Furthermore, all of Spirit’s planes are certified with the Federal Aviation Administration and follow all of the guidelines that the administration puts in place for type, production, and airworthiness ratings.
In conclusion, flying is the safest form of transportation, and Spirit is no exception. The statistics, ratings, and compliance with the F.A.A. demonstrate that Spirit is just as safe as the other well-known carriers. While Spirit Airlines cuts corners in many ways, passenger safety is not one of them.
