Silver Airways, a regional airline based in Florida, abruptly ceased operations on Wednesday (June 11), leaving many travelers stranded. The airline, which operated flights between Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, announced its shutdown via social media, advising passengers not to head to the airport. The sudden closure comes after the airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2024, with hopes of restructuring financially.
According to Fox Business, Silver Airways had entered into a transaction to sell its assets to another airline holding company. However, the buyer decided not to continue Silver's flight operations. The airline's fleet had already been reduced to eight ATR turboprop planes, and its workforce had been significantly cut from 608 to 348 employees.
Silver Airways instructed passengers that all credit card purchases would be refunded through their credit card companies or travel agencies. Those who paid in cash would need to file for refunds as part of the bankruptcy process.
The shutdown marks the end of Silver Airways' 14-year run, which began in 2011. The airline was headquartered in the Fort Lauderdale area and had previously acquired Seaborne Airlines in 2018, expanding its route network in the Caribbean. The sudden closure left many travelers frustrated, with some sharing their experiences of arriving at airports only to find their flights canceled without prior notice.
For those affected, other airlines such as American Airlines, Cape Air, JetBlue, Spirit, and United Airlines offer services on similar routes once covered by Silver Airways. Travelers are advised to review their travel plans and consider rebooking with these carriers.