Spirit Airlines, a budget carrier, is nearing the completion of refunds for customers impacted by its sudden closure over the weekend. The airline's financial troubles, which have persisted for years, were worsened by a sharp increase in jet fuel prices, largely attributed to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict involving Iran. Spirit, which has not posted a profit since 2019, had scheduled around 4,000 flights through mid-May before announcing its wind-down. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the Biden administration for blocking a merger between Spirit and JetBlue, claiming it harmed competition and pricing for travelers. In contrast, Senator Elizabeth Warren defended the decision, stating that the merger would have resulted in fewer flights and higher fares. She emphasized that the airline's failure was due to rising oil prices rather than the merger blockage. As Spirit moves towards an orderly liquidation process, Duffy advised customers not to arrive at airports for their flights.