PBS NewsHour - The Latest | After Spirit Airlines shutdown, how passengers can get home and get refunds by Sally Ho, Associated Press

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

The U.S.‑based Spirit Airlines has ceased operations, leaving passengers scrambling for alternatives and refunds; major carriers—including American, United, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier, Southwest and Allegiant—are offering “rescue fares” and reduced‑price tickets on routes that overlapped Spirit’s network, with limited‑time windows for booking (e.g., Southwest’s in‑person offer through May 6 and United’s two‑week online window). Spirit says it will automatically refund credit‑ or debit‑card purchases, while travelers who booked through agencies, vouchers, credits or points must pursue refunds through those channels or through the bankruptcy process. The DOT advises filing a charge‑back under the Fair Credit Billing Act, and passengers with travel insurance or credit‑card coverage should check for insolvency protection. The National Consumers League urges travelers to keep all booking documentation and act quickly, as deadlines for refunds and insurance claims can be tight. American and United are adding capacity—larger aircraft and extra flights—on affected routes, Southwest is matching Spirit’s elite status, and Hertz is providing discounted one‑way rentals; Spirit employees stranded on trips will receive assistance from other airlines and recruitment support for displaced staff.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/after-spirit-airlines-shutdown-how-passengers-can-get-home-and-get-refunds

#SpiritAirlines #DOT #airtravel #airlines #bankruptcy

Canadians may be impacted as Spirit Airlines shuts down operations ‘effective immediately’

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://globalnews.ca/news/11827481/canadians-impacted-spirit-airlines/

Simple, delicious, cheap: What Italians can teach Kiwis about cooking on a budget

Alice Taylor shares recipes for two classic pasta dishes, inspired by her recent move to Italy. I’m in Italy for a few weeks, living with my partner’s family. He grew up here after moving f…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #RecipeTopics #AirTravel #consumeraffairs #costofliving #Food&Drink #Recipes
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2625176/simple-delicious-cheap-what-italians-can-teach-kiwis-about-cooking-on-a-budget/

Air Canada flight diverts back to London Heathrow after mid-air emergency

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/air-canada-flight-diverts-back-37103077

Salon.com | Spirit Airlines collapses after bailout efforts fail by CK Smith

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Spirit Airlines abruptly halted all flights on May 2, 2026, entering an “orderly wind‑down” after a proposed $500 million federal bailout fell through, ending its 34‑year run as a major ultra‑low‑cost carrier. The airline cited sharply rising fuel prices, persistent debt, and recent bankruptcy filings as reasons it could not sustain operations, and it began processing refunds while shutting down customer service. The collapse leaves roughly 17,000 employees jobless and strands thousands of travelers, prompting federal officials and other airlines to act to curb fare spikes and rebook passengers, while highlighting the broader uncertainty for budget air travel models in a high‑cost environment.

Read more: https://www.salon.com/2026/05/02/spirit-airlines-collapses-after-bailout-efforts-fail/

#SpiritAirlines #airtravel #airline #bankruptcy

EasyJet issues new Saturday 'flights and package holidays' update for UK travellers

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/easyjet-issues-new-saturday-flights-37103047

Swiss Challenge For P6.2 Billion Subic Bay International Airport Launched By SBMA

New developments regarding the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) could happen soon as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) formally launched the Swiss challenge for it, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. It is recalled that Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments proposed to manage, operate and rehabilitate the SBIA for P5.31 billion.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

More than a year after an unsolicited proposal was first submitted, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has formally launched the Swiss challenge for the ₱6.2-billion Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) project, opening the door to rival bidders for an airport that would complement the seaport facilities in the former United States (US) naval base in Zambales province.

In an invitation posted on the website of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center last Monday, April 27, SBMA invited challengers to apply for eligibility and submit comparative proposals for the airport project, which is an unsolicited proposal from American firm Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments LLC. PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Eleazar E. Ricote told Manila Bulletin on Tuesday, April 28, that the estimated project cost is ₱6.2 billion, up from the previous ₱5.31-billion estimate released by the agency last year.

SBMA noted that it received the unsolicited proposal from Cerberus in March 2025 under an operate-rehabilitate-add-transfer scheme in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11966, or the PPP Code of the Philippines. Cerberus proposed a 25-year concession period, subject to extension.

To recall, Cerberus previously acquired the shuttered Hanjin shipyard in Subic in 2022 and has since invested at least $40 million to revive operations at the facility, now known as Agila Subic Multi-Use Facilities—said to be the future site of a joint US-Philippines ammunition production and storage facility. The firm had also earlier signaled plans to convert the Subic airport into a cargo and logistics hub as part of its broader investments in shipbuilding, logistics, semiconductors, and energy in the country.

The Swiss challenge—technically referred to in SBMA’s bidding documents as a “comparative challenge”—involves the upgrade, expansion, operation and maintenance (O&M), and eventual turnover of SBIA to SBMA after the concession period. The project primarily aims to establish an efficient and modern cargo transport system for Luzon region by transforming the airport into a modern, efficient, and high-capacity cargo hub that meets international standards and improves cargo shipment quality, SBMA said.

Following detailed evaluation and negotiations between SBMA and Cerberus, the American firm was granted original proponent status (OPS), making its unsolicited proposal subject to comparative challenge.

In Philippine PPP practice, a comparative challenge is essentially the formal Swiss challenge process for unsolicited proposals, wherein third parties may submit competing bids while the original proponent retains the right to match the best offer.

Under this project’s single-stage bidding process, challengers must submit a comparative proposal consisting of three envelopes: qualification documents, a technical proposal, and a financial proposal.

SBMA’s pre-qualification/qualifications, bids, and awards committee (PBAC) will first evaluate challengers’ legal, technical, and financial qualifications. Those who pass will proceed to the opening of technical proposals, and compliant technical bids will move on to the opening of financial proposals. The challenger submitting the financial proposal that meets the highest base concession fee in contract year one will be declared as having the most superior comparative proposal.

The comparative challenge will be conducted under a right-to-match mechanism, in which Cerberus, as the original proponent, may match or better the financial proposal of the most superior comparative proposal within 30 calendar days.

“In case the SBMA PBAC determines the financial proposal of the original proponent to be superior or more advantageous to the government or in case there is no challenger, the PPP contract shall be awarded to the original proponent,” SBMA said.

Interested challengers may obtain the instructions to challengers and other tender documents starting May 18 upon payment of a non-refundable participation fee of ₱1.4 million, or $23,333.33. Only challengers that have paid the fee in full may join the pre-bid conference, participate in the comparative challenge, and submit comparative proposals.

The comparative challenge process will run for 90 calendar days from the issuance of the challenge documents. Submission of comparative proposals must be completed on or before 2 p.m. on Aug. 17.

The Subic airport project complements the government’s broader push for the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), which aims to strengthen logistics, infrastructure, and industrial connectivity across the former US bases of Subic and Clark, Manila, and Batangas province.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there will be challengers coming in for the P6.2 billion SBIA? When was the last time you visited the international airport in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco