Silver Airways, the regional carrier once known for its short-haul flights across Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, has abruptly canceled all flights and officially ceased operations.
The sudden shutdown comes after a failed attempt to sell the airline’s assets under bankruptcy protection, leaving passengers and employees stunned.
Airline Tells Customers: “Do Not Go to the Airport”
The airline issued a brief but urgent message on its website and social media early Wednesday, advising travelers not to head to the airport, as all scheduled flights have been canceled effective immediately.
“Due to the sale of Silver’s assets during bankruptcy proceedings and the buyer’s decision not to continue flight operations, all Silver Airways flights have been canceled. Please contact your credit card company or travel agency for refunds,” the airline stated.
From Chapter 11 to Full Shutdown
Silver Airways had been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since December 2024. It sought a buyer to keep the airline running, but the process failed to attract any bids from companies willing to continue operations.
The carrier’s final blow came this week when it sold its assets to a holding company that opted to liquidate rather than revive the airline.
By the time of shutdown, Silver’s fleet had dwindled to just eight turboprop aircraft, and it had reduced staffing to about 348 employees.
Routes Affected Across Florida and the Caribbean
The airline served multiple destinations, including key routes between Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Key West, and various islands in the Bahamas and Caribbean. With no transition plan or takeover, all of these routes are now suspended.
Passengers who had upcoming travel plans are being urged to seek refunds via their payment providers. As of publication, no major carrier has announced plans to assume Silver’s routes, though alternatives may include American Airlines, JetBlue, and Cape Air on select services.
Seaborne Airlines Continues Operations
While Silver Airways is no longer flying, its Caribbean-based subsidiary, Seaborne Airlines, continues to operate independently. The fate of Seaborne beyond this announcement remains uncertain but was not included in the bankruptcy sale.
A Blow to Regional Air Travel
Silver Airways, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, had positioned itself as a low-cost, convenient option for regional air travel in the southeastern U.S. and nearby islands.
Its collapse marks another hit to the regional airline sector, which has struggled with rising fuel costs, pilot shortages, and post-pandemic instability.
For now, Silver’s departure leaves a significant gap in regional connectivity—and a wave of frustration for passengers left scrambling for alternatives.
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