With Spirit Airlines ceasing operations, other low cost airlines are doubling down on their request for a government bailout.

Here’s the CEO of Avelo Airlines, echoing the trade association which also represents profitable Allegiant Air and Sun Country (which are merging) and Frontier Airlines, Spirit’s primary ultra-low cost competitior (which benefits from the yellow carrier’s demise), asking for taxpayer support.

What’s the point of a low cost airline if its costs are low only because taxpayers are offering a put against those costs?

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, though, says no and calls out the craven nature of the ask – they don’t even need the money but just see a change to pick taxpayer pockets.

He said the prospect of a Spirit bailout was seen by some other airlines as an opportunity to get money “not necessarily based on need, but based on opportunity.”

However, even Duffy’s statement was too solicitous of these private businesses, signaling a potential future willingness to have the median…