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Spirit Airlines raises going-concern doubts, months after exiting bankruptcy

Spirit Airlines warned that it was facing doubts about its ability to continue operations just months after its bankruptcy. Weak domestic demand and shrinking cash reserves are straining its operation, sending shares down 42%. In its quarterly report, the airline said that adverse market conditions like increased domestic capacity and low demand for leisure travel during the second quarter have resulted to a difficult pricing environment.

The company anticipates that these pressures will continue throughout the remainder of the year and add to operational uncertainty. Spirit Airlines announced last month that it would lay off 270 pilots and demote another 140 to save cash.

Tim Hynes of Debtwire, the head of global credit research, said that it was necessary to improve its financial condition faster than expected.

After years of losses and debt, the Florida-based airline known for its bright, yellow livery filed for bankruptcy last November.

This was the first major U.S. airline to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy since 2011. In March, it emerged from bankruptcy after a court approved reorganization backed by its creditor.

Travelers have been forced to cut back on spending due to the uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump’s budget cuts and tariffs.

The airline announced on Monday that it has been asked by its credit card processor to put more money aside as collateral, or else risk losing its contract which expires on December 31.

Spirit Airlines said that it would increase liquidity by selling aircraft, real estate, and excess airport gate capacity.

It said that uncertainty over meeting minimum liquid covenants, and the outcome from talks with stakeholders has raised substantial doubts about the company's continued viability as a going-concern over the next year. (Reporting and editing by Arun K. Koyyur in Bengaluru, Shivansh Tiwary from Bengaluru)

(source: Reuters)