Spirit Airlines will discontinue service at Denver International Airport effective Jan. 9, reports Denver Gazette news partner 9News.

“As we continue to learn more about how Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine availability impacts our fleet and operations, we’re forced to make some tough choices,” the airline said in a statement. “After considering those constraints and the underperformance of our routes through Denver International Airport (DEN), we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue service at the airport, effective Jan. 9, 2024.”

The airline said three routes are affected by the change. They said they will offer refunds to people who have made reservations for flights after Jan. 9.
A spokesperson for DIA said Spirit operates out of one gate on Concourse C. The gate will revert back to the city when Spirit discontinues service.

JetBlue has proposed a $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines, which the Biden administration is fighting in court. The trial in federal district court in Boston could reshape the market for low-cost airlines — Spirit is by far the nation’s biggest budget carrier, and it will disappear if JetBlue wins the case.

The New York carrier argues that it needs Spirit to bulk up and compete better against the bigger airlines. JetBlue touts itself as “one of the most disruptive and innovative companies in the history of the airline industry,” and says it can bring down fares if it can go head-to-head against the Big Four on more routes.

The Justice Department argues, however, that Spirit is the disruptive force that needs to be protected.

Spirit, which is based in Miramar, Florida, is known as an “ultra-low-cost carrier,” the name given to airlines that tout rock-bottom fares but make up for it by charging high fees for things like checking a bag or carrying one on board. Spirit even charges for soft drinks.