In 1927, aviation pioneer Lloyd Stearman relocated his factory, Stearman Aircraft Company, from California to Wichita, Kansas.

In 1929, Boeing, then known as the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, acquired Stearman Aircraft Company.

In 1964, Spirit Airlines was established as a trucking company in Michigan before transitioning into an airline.

In 1974, Ground Air Transport Inc. was established by Ned Homfeld, marking a significant development in the company's history.

In 1980, Ned Homfeld founded Charter One Airlines, which later became the first passenger version of Spirit Airlines.

Spirit Airlines was founded in 1983 and has since grown to become a prominent low-cost carrier in the United States.

In 1990, Charter One Airlines started scheduled service from Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, to Atlantic City. This marked the company's transition from a charter tour operator to a scheduled airline service.

Spirit Airlines was established on May 29, 1992, by changing its name from Charter One and adding four DC-9 jets to its fleet.

On June 1st, 1992, Spirit Airlines, then a 10-year-old company, launched its first route operated by its own aircraft between Detroit and Atlantic City.

Scheduled flights between Boston and Providence started on June 15, 1992, further enhancing Spirit Airlines' route network.

On June 15th, 1993, Spirit Airlines launched service between Boston (BOS) and Providence (PVD) using the newly acquired DC-9 aircraft.

On September 25, 1993, Spirit Airlines initiated flights between Atlantic City and Fort Myers, Florida, expanding its route network and revenue streams.

During the summer of 1994, Spirit Airlines faced a major controversy when they overbooked flights, leading to the cancellation of 1,500 tickets, amidst a period of growth and expansion for the carrier.

In 1995, Spirit Airlines introduced its 'Freedom Fare' service, offering flights from Detroit to Philadelphia for $49 one-way, followed by the addition of Boston for $69 one-way.

In 1996, Spirit Airlines experienced its only unprofitable year due to a 25% rise in fuel prices, consumer reluctance to fly with low-cost carriers, and competition from Northwest Airlines on the Detroit-Philadelphia route, leading to the budget airline's exit from the market.

In June 1997, Spirit Airlines acquired the routes of the bankrupt carrier Sun Jet from New Jersey to Florida. Sun Jet and Spirit had previously operated chartered tours for World Technology Systems.

In August 1997, the partnership between Spirit Airlines and Myrtle Beach Jet Express, which operated flights for World Technology Systems, came to an end due to disputes between the two carriers.

In 1998, Spirit Airlines experienced significant growth by increasing its revenue to $121 million, expanding its fleet to 20 aircraft, achieving the industry's highest load factor of 76.4%, and carrying 1.4 million passengers, marking an 80% increase in customer traffic compared to the previous year.

In November 1999, Spirit Airlines moved its headquarters from Eastpointe, Michigan to Miramar, Florida in the Miami metropolitan area.

In December 1999, Spirit Airlines moved its headquarters from Eastpointe, Michigan to a new state-of-the-art facility in Miramar, Florida.

In 2000, the US Federal Aviation Administration fined Spirit Airlines $67,000 for violations related to cabin and seat markings on some of their aircraft.

In November 2001, Spirit Airlines started offering service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, along with a Spanish-language customer service plan.

In 2002, Spirit Airlines started to increase the number of Airbus A320 aircraft in its fleet, which remains the only aircraft family in its fleet today.

In the fall of 2003, Spirit Airlines resumed flights to Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after they were suspended post the September 11 attacks.

In January 2005, Spirit Airlines, facing financial challenges, appointed a new CEO, Ben Baldanza, who shifted the airline's business model to an ultra-low-cost-carrier (ULCC). This change involved introducing fees for onboard products like carry-ons and food services.

In 2006, Spirit Airlines exercised options for 30 Airbus A320-200 aircraft, which were set to be delivered in March of 2010.

In 2007, Spirit Airlines transitioned to an ultra-low cost carrier model, decoupling amenities from the main ticket price. This marked a significant shift in their operational strategy.

In June 2008, Spirit Airlines submitted a WARN application indicating possible relocation or layoffs of pilots and flight attendants, along with the closure of certain crew bases.

In May 2009, Spirit pilots voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action over compensation, work rules, and benefits after years of inconclusive negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

On June 12, 2010, Spirit grounded its flights as unionized pilots walked out on strike, leading to the first passenger airline strike by American ALPA-represented pilots since Comair in 2001.

Flights resumed on June 18, 2010, after a tentative agreement was reached between Spirit Airlines and ALPA, bringing pilots' compensation and benefits in line with other operators in the US.

Starting August 1, 2010, Spirit Airlines implemented a policy to charge passengers for carry-on bags, aiming to streamline boarding processes and reduce fuel consumption.

The United States Department of Transportation fined Spirit Airlines $43,900 for deceptive advertising practices, where the airline did not fully disclose extra fees added to the advertised discounted fares.

Spirit Airlines was fined $100,000 by the DOT for mishandling complaints related to its treatment of customers with disabilities.

In April 2012, Spirit Airlines faced backlash for refusing a refund to a dying veteran, Jerry Meekins, causing public outrage and threats of boycott. The situation was later resolved with an apology and refund.

In August 2013, Spirit reached a new five-year deal with the Transport Workers Union of America, representing the airline's flight dispatchers, ensuring labor stability.

In November 2014, Morgan Stanley named Spirit the top growth airline pick for investors.

In January 2016, former AirTran CEO Robert L. Fornaro replaced Baldanza as CEO. This prompted rumors of a merger with Frontier Airlines, which would have created the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in the Americas. Fornaro announced the airline would be teaming up with the Disney Institute to 'create a common purpose and a fresh set of service standards', and changing policies internally to create a more welcoming environment.

In October 2016, Spirit Airlines took delivery of its first A320neo aircraft, becoming the first U.S. airline to operate the new narrow-body Airbus model.

By November 2017, Spirit Airlines' on-time performance had significantly improved, ranking second only to Delta after being last among 13 US airlines in 2015.

In February 2018, Spirit was the only airline in North America to make the list of the top 10 safest in the world.

In May 2018, Spirit Airlines announced the installation of high-speed Wi-Fi on its entire fleet, offering web browsing and streaming options at an affordable price.

On December 23, 2019, Spirit Airlines revealed its intention to acquire 100 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, signaling a significant fleet expansion strategy to support the airline's growth and operational capabilities.

In February 2020, Spirit Airlines outlined a fleet plan for 293 aircraft by 2027, with an order of 100 additional aircraft announced in October 2019.

In July 2020, a passenger died of COVID-19 on a Spirit Airlines flight. Spirit Airlines claimed to have notified the CDC, but there was no record of the contact. Passengers on the flight were not informed about the presence of an infected individual.

Spirit Airlines cancelled 40% of its flights, causing travel disruptions due to weather and operational challenges. The airline faced criticism for not having arrangements to book passengers on other airlines' flights.

Spirit Airlines is set to debut the Airbus A321neo in its fleet on June 7, 2022. The aircraft will feature eight big front seats and 227 economy seats.

Spirit Airlines is merging into JetBlue and will no longer operate independently. The history of Spirit Airlines, which started as a trucking company and grew into a low-cost airline, is coming to an end.

On October 6, 2022, Spirit Airlines reached a major milestone by launching the first of 31 routes from Miami International Airport. Despite previous setbacks, the company's flight schedule was still expanding.

An article about the history of Spirit Airlines was published on May 30, 2023.

On October 19, 2022, the deal between JetBlue and Spirit was approved by a majority of Spirit's voting shareholders, despite facing opposition from the Department of Justice.

A federal judge blocked JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines on January 16, 2024, citing anticompetitive concerns and potential harm to consumers, leading to a significant drop in Spirit Airlines' stock value.

On January 18, 2024, Spirit Airlines denied speculations of filing for bankruptcy, reassuring that the company is exploring new strategies to secure its future despite the failed acquisition by JetBlue.

After a federal judge ruled that JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines would reduce competition, JetBlue decided to end its takeover attempt on March 4, 2024.