When I first flew with Spirit Airlines nearly a decade ago, I remember two things vividly: the no-frills experience and the skepticism people had about its safety. Since then, I’ve flown Spirit more times than I can count, across major hubs, regional airports, and in a wide range of conditions. Safety has always been a question hovering around budget airlines.
The perception of safety and the statistical reality are two different things. In 2025, as travelers weigh budget options against peace of mind, Spirit Airlines stands at the center of that debate. I’ve flown Spirit dozens of times over the past decade, from short domestic hops to cross-country routes, and I’ve reviewed everything from fleet records to federal audit results. Here’s what you need to know about Spirit’s safety in 2025, based on real data and expert analysis.
What Is Spirit Airlines Known for in 2025?
Spirit Airlines operates as an Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC). That means everything from baggage to seat selection to in-flight refreshments comes with an extra cost. But in return, Spirit offers some of the lowest base fares in the U.S. market.
In 2025, Spirit maintains a fleet of over 200 aircraft, mainly composed of Airbus A319s, A320s, and A321neos. The airline services over 90 destinations across the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. It continues to focus heavily on point-to-point, high-utilization routes, keeping costs low by minimizing ground time.
As of June 2025, Spirit is still operating independently, following the blocked merger attempt with JetBlue. This is important context, because a merger would have impacted fleet composition, operational procedures, and potentially safety oversight.
What Are Spirit Airlines’ 2025 Safety Ratings and Audit Results?
Let me be clear: Spirit Airlines meets all mandatory FAA safety regulations. In fact, it has consistently passed the FAA’s annual safety audits. These cover everything from maintenance schedules and training procedures to compliance with airworthiness directives.
As of 2025:
- FAA Certification: Compliant and up-to-date
- IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA): Spirit is a registered IOSA-certified carrier. This voluntary certification places it within a global standard of operational safety and risk management.
- Airlineratings.com: Rates Spirit with 5 out of 7 stars for safety, docking points mainly for the absence of inflight product offerings, not safety protocols.
- Skytrax: Spirit is not ranked in Skytrax’s star ratings, but that’s because it doesn’t participate, not because of safety concerns.
Safety Ratings Table:
| Source | Safety Rating / Status | Year | Notes |
| FAA | Fully Compliant | 2025 | Meets all domestic regulatory criteria |
| IOSA | Certified | 2025 | Voluntary safety audit passed |
| Airlineratings.com | 5/7 stars | 2025 | Lacks inflight services, not safety |
| Skytrax | Not rated | 2025 | Non-participating airline |
Has Spirit Airlines Experienced Any Incidents Recently?
From 2020 to early 2025, Spirit Airlines has not recorded any fatal incidents or major mechanical failures. According to the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and FAA reports, Spirit has had minor incidents, most of which were precautionary landings or non-injury technical issues.
Recent Events:
- 2022: Emergency landing in Atlanta due to smoke indicator. No injuries. Faulty sensor.
- 2023: Minor hydraulic issue in Orlando. Resolved without disembarkation.
- 2024: Bird strike in Chicago. Returned to gate, resumed service after inspection.
Each incident led to mandatory inspections and preventive actions. Spirit’s incident rate remains within industry averages and it has not received any penalties or safety warnings in recent years.
How Old Is Spirit Airlines’ Fleet in 2025?
As of Q1 2025, Spirit’s fleet has an average age of 6.9 years.
Fleet Breakdown:
- Airbus A320: 95 aircraft, 6.8 years
- Airbus A321neo: 43 aircraft, 3.2 years
- Airbus A319: 31 aircraft, 10.1 years
This fleet age is younger than that of most U.S. carriers, including American and Southwest. A newer fleet contributes to lower mechanical risks and better fuel efficiency.
How Does Spirit Airlines Maintain Its Aircraft?
Maintenance is where Spirit’s operation becomes more sophisticated than most people expect. Spirit follows a strict FAA-approved maintenance program, divided into the following:
- Line Maintenance: Performed daily between flights
- A-Checks: Every 500-800 flight hours
- C-Checks: Every 20–24 months or 6,000 flight hours
- Engine Health Monitoring: Real-time telemetry used via Airbus’ Skywise system
Spirit contracts some of its heavy maintenance to certified third-party MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) providers like AAR Corp and Lufthansa Technik, both of which are FAA Part 145 repair stations.
These providers are subject to the same regulations as in-house maintenance facilities. I’ve reviewed their certifications and FAA records, they are clean and current.
How Do Spirit Airlines Pilots and Crew Rank in 2025?
Spirit pilots meet FAA’s minimum 1,500 flight-hour rule, just like every major U.S. airline. The hiring process includes:
- ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) license
- Type ratings specific to Airbus A320 family aircraft
- Ongoing simulator sessions every 6 months
Flight attendants are trained in FAA-required safety procedures, including:
- CPR and AED training
- Emergency evacuation protocols
- Firefighting and decompression drills
Crew labor unions like ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association) and AFA-CWA (Association of Flight Attendants) monitor safety standards closely. As of 2025, no active disputes have compromised safety operations.
How Does Spirit Airlines Compare to Other Budget Airlines in 2025?
Spirit isn’t the only ULCC in the U.S., so let’s compare it with peers like Frontier and Allegiant.
Comparison Table:
| Airline | Safety Score (2025) | Avg Fleet Age | IOSA Certified | Fatal Accidents |
| Spirit | Medium-High | 7.1 yrs | Yes | 0 |
| Frontier | Medium | 9.3 yrs | No | 0 |
| Allegiant | Medium-Low | 12.4 yrs | No | 1 (2001) |
Spirit stands out with a younger fleet and IOSA certification. Allegiant, by contrast, has an older fleet and a past fatal accident. Frontier is roughly on par but lacks IOSA oversight.
What Do Frequent Flyers Say About Spirit’s Safety?
In 2025, passengers have become more discerning about separating comfort from safety. On Reddit’s r/aviation and r/travel, I see frequent comments like:
“Seats are terrible, but I’ve never once felt unsafe.”
“Delayed often, but safety-wise, never had an issue.”
Spirit scores low in comfort reviews, but not in safety perception. The main complaints relate to:
- Seat padding and legroom
- Customer service during delays
- Lack of inflight amenities
Not a single review I found in 2025 included verified concerns about mechanical danger, pilot error, or unsafe aircraft.
How Does Spirit Airlines Handle In-Flight Emergencies?
Spirit follows the same FAA-mandated emergency procedures as every U.S. commercial carrier. In case of emergencies:
- Crew are trained to evacuate a full aircraft in under 90 seconds
- Aircraft are equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
- Pilots have access to real-time communication with ground operations
In 2024, Spirit successfully diverted Flight NK412 to Miami after a passenger suffered a cardiac arrest. The incident was managed within protocol, and the NTSB praised the crew’s rapid response.
Does Flying Spirit Affect Travel Insurance or Coverage?
Most travel insurance providers do not penalize customers for choosing budget carriers. Allianz, Travel Guard, and World Nomads confirm that Spirit is treated the same as Delta or United in terms of emergency coverage.
However, for optional trip cancellation or delay claims, policy fine print sometimes excludes “airline policy-based delays”, and Spirit’s no-refund rule can complicate reimbursement unless you have a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) plan.
Should You Be Concerned About Flying Spirit Airlines?
If your concern is safety, the answer is no. I’ve flown Spirit in adverse weather, on full-capacity holiday routes, and red-eye flights. I’ve witnessed the crew handle turbulence, mechanical inspections, and ATC diversions with professionalism. The airline meets all safety obligations, has a young fleet, and keeps up with global safety standards.
Your comfort might be minimal, and checked bags cost extra, but the safety of the aircraft, pilots, and systems is not compromised.
Is Spirit Airlines Safe in 2025?
Yes, Spirit Airlines is safe to fly in 2025. Here’s why:
- Zero fatal accidents in its history
- Modern fleet with real-time health monitoring
- Certified by FAA and IOSA
- Trained pilots and crew, held to industry-wide safety standards
While the comfort level may not match Delta or JetBlue, the core safety infrastructure is robust. If you’re flying Spirit, you’re flying on a well-maintained aircraft, with qualified personnel, and under strict regulatory oversight.
FAQs About Spirit Airlines Safety in 2025
Is Spirit Airlines FAA certified?
Yes. Spirit operates under FAA Part 121 certification.
Does Spirit cut corners on safety to stay cheap?
No. FAA oversight ensures compliance across all airlines, regardless of pricing.
How often does Spirit cancel flights due to technical issues?
Fewer than 0.5% of flights in 2024 were canceled for mechanical reasons.
Are Spirit Airlines planes well-maintained?
Yes. Maintenance is performed in FAA-certified facilities according to Airbus guidelines.