Spirit Airlines announces it’s shutting down

(NBC, KYMA) - Spirit Airlines has officially shut down, impacting thousands of employees and travelers.

The airline released a statement Saturday telling guests all flights have been canceled effective immediately, and customer service is no longer available.

Travelers will automatically receive refunds for flights purchased with a credit or debit card, but those who booked using a voucher, credit, or points will be informed about compensation at a later date.

Spirit passengers are being told not to go the airport, and to refer to the website SpiritRestructuring.com for further guidance.

The discount carrier has been trying to emerge from its second bankruptcy in less than a year, but rising fuel costs only exacerbated the company's financial struggles.

Spirit had been seeking a $500 million bailout from the White House, but the talks failed in the final hours.

Major airlines like United, Delta and JetBlue are capping ticket prices to help Spirit customers rebook flight and offering reduced fares on some Spirit routes.