The U.S. Department of State on Saturday urged Americans overseas to prepare for travel delays after Spirit Airlines suspended all flights and began closing its operations.

Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson issued a brief statement while news of the airline’s sudden closure spread.

“The U.S. Department of State is aware of potential disruptions to Spirit Airlines operations and will continue to monitor impacts to American citizens abroad,” Johnson said in a post he shared on social media on May 2.

The statement directed worried passengers to turn to the Department of Transportation for help. It added that other airlines still have seats available in most places but promised government support for anyone who needs help getting home.

Spirit Airlines suspends all flights

Spirit Airlines stopped flying early Saturday morning as the company told customers not to go to the airport.

All flights were canceled, and customer service lines went silent. The low-cost carrier, known for cheap fares, flew for 34 years before the shutdown.

The airline pointed to high fuel prices and failed talks with the government for funding. Spirit Airlines had gone through bankruptcy twice in recent years.

Late Friday, attempts to secure a bailout from the Trump administration fell apart. The company said it started an orderly wind-down of operations.

Travelers across the U.S. woke up to canceled flights. Many were left at airports or stuck in hotels with no clear way home.

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Spirit Airlines flew to many cities in Florida, Texas, Michigan, and the Carolinas. Its routes often served vacation spots and family visits.

Major airlines moved quickly to help, with American Airlines placing price caps on tickets for routes overlapping with Spirit’s former network. United and Delta also said they would take extra passengers where possible.

The State Department statement focused on those already outside the country. Thousands of Americans fly on U.S. carriers each day for work, study, or vacation. Officials said they would track any cases of people unable to return on time.

“While commercial availability remains readily available across the affected regions, the Department is committed to assisting Americans in need of support returning to the United States,” he added.

The Transportation Department released its own notice earlier Saturday, reminding passengers of refund rules.

People who paid Spirit directly by credit card should receive automatic refunds. Those who booked through travel agents must contact the companies they booked with.

The genesis of Spirit Airlines’ troubles

The airline lost money for years after the COVID-19 pandemic. High debt, engine problems on its Airbus fleet, and tough competition made recovery hard.

A planned merger with JetBlue was blocked by courts over concerns about higher prices for budget travelers.

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The shutdown affects about 17,000 workers. Many learned of the end through news reports and company emails. Spirit’s last profitable year was 2019.

At airports that once saw dozens of orange Spirit planes each day, gates stood empty. Departure boards showed row after row of cancellations. Ground crews turned away passengers who showed up anyway.

Travel experts said the gap left by Spirit Airlines will likely be filled quickly. Other low-cost carriers and big airlines already fly many of the same routes. Still, fares on some popular flights jumped on Saturday as demand rose.

The State Department has emphasized that the issue is limited to one airline and does not affect the safety or overall availability of air travel.

For now, passengers are being told to check the Transportation Department’s website and rebook with other carriers as soon as possible.