The details of the potential aid package are still under discussion, and the airlines’ request was sent to the White House, which did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Spirit’s potential bailout
While the government has bailed out airlines in the past, the government does not typically bail out a single airline. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government gave U.S. airlines $54 billion in grants and loans to avoid layoffs. The government acquired warrants from the airlines, and later sold them in public auctions for more than $550 million.
