Viral Campaign to Revive Spirit Airlines Draws $337M in Pledges and Union Backing
The viral effort has drawn backing from more than 370,000 supporters and the Spirit flight attendants union, while experts warn of major legal hurdles.
- Voice actor Hunter Peterson launched a viral TikTok campaign seeking to crowd-fund the revival of Spirit Airlines, with his website letsbuyspirit.com attracting over 156,000 non-binding pledges toward a $1.75 billion target.
- Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday after 34 years due to financial losses and rising fuel costs. The carrier is being liquidated in bankruptcy court while lenders repossess its aircraft.
- Industry analysts warn that Spirit needs at least $1 billion to settle debts and resume operations, yet the $132 million in non-binding pledges represents only a fraction of capital required. The average pledge stands at $772.
- Any revival faces massive Department of Transportation regulatory hurdles, including a rigorous "fitness" test and a requirement that at least 75 percent of voting interest be held by Americans. A crowdfunded airline model has no historical precedent.
- Economists note the "Spirit Effect"—where ultra-low-cost carriers lower fares across the board—is at risk without the airline. Peterson described the viral campaign as "a joke that is rapidly going out of control," yet it underscores consumer frustration over rising travel costs.
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Who is Hunter Peterson and how did his viral ‘Spirit 2.0’ campaign draw over $200 million in pledged crowdfunding?
A viral crowdfunding campaign called “Let’s Buy Spirit” emerged after Spirit Airlines shut down operations. The initiative claims hundreds of millions in pledges but faces major financial and legal hurdles.
NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
NBC Boston'Get in loser, we’re buying Spirit': One man’s viral plan to revive the airline
Spirit Airlines was the budget-friendly carrier America loved to hate. But now that it’s out of business, a viral crowdfunding campaign is attempting to resurrect the bankrupt airline. Once Hunter Peterson heard Spirit would close on May 2 — after attempts to merge with other airlines or get a lifeline from the federal government — the 22-year-old voice actor and content creator posted on social media that day with an idea to revive the airline.…
TikTok creator's crowdfunding campaign to buy Spirit Airlines racks up more than $335M in pledges
One week after Spirit Airlines shut down operations, a new campaign to save the budget carrier has gained traction online, with more than $335 million in pledges.TikTok creator Hunter Peterson posted a video last weekend proposing a plan to purchase Spirit through crowdfunding.In the video, which has garnered more than 7 million views, Peterson suggested that if enough people contributed, the airline could be revived."This is a genius idea: We n…
Crowdfunding campaign to buy Spirit gets $337M in pledges
An ambitious content creator seeking to buy the now-defunct Spirit Airlines with a crowdfunding campaign has generated over $337 million in pledged funds so far. Hunter Peterson, known for flying the budget carrier “24 hours straight” last year, started the grassroots campaign on the same day that Spirit shut down last weekend. He said he...
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