As passengers checked in for flights at RDU's Terminal 1 on Monday, a few signs near the ticketing counter were the only glimpses of Spirit Airlines' past operations at the airport.

"I actually just flew back on Spirit Friday night," passenger Nikki Tickle said. "When I landed, that was kind of when I found out they were pulling up." 

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Tickle said she was one of the lucky passengers who was able to return home before Spirit stopped operations.

Her luck turned into concern about future airfares after the budget airline's abrupt ending. 

"It's probably going to stop some of the traveling for those who can't afford to pay the higher prices." 

Low-cost and ultra-low-cost airlines account for roughly a third of market share at RDU, according to recent airport data from December. Spirit accounted for just over one percent. 

The budget carrier is the latest ultra-low-cost airline to change operations at RDU. In January, Avelo Airlines announced a closure of the company's RDU base amid a scaling back of North Carolina operations.

The changes led to worry among some passengers about the possibility of increased airfares.

"Fuel costs are up right now. I think that's led to higher costs for airfare," passenger Nick Leverett said. "I think it is important to have as many carriers as possible because I think that does, at least, keep some competitive balance."

WRAL asked every low-cost and ultra-low-cost airline at RDU how Spirit's ending could impact current offerings and airfares at the airport. An Avelo spokesperson said the airline does not have current plans to expand at RDU in the wake of Spirit's collapse. 

A spokesperson for RDU says despite Spirit's collapse, the airport is still seeing growth among other low-cost carriers.

"The airport has regular conversations with legacy, low-cost and ultra-low-cost airlines and will continue to expand service to the destinations that are in demand with our guests," an RDU spokesperson wrote in an email to WRAL on Monday.

The spokesperson went on to say that low-cost carrier Breeze Airways is now serving more destinations than any other airline at RDU.