Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Silver Airways, a regional U.S. airline based in Fort Lauderdale, has abruptly ceased all operations, leaving passengers stunned and stranded across Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.
In a shocking announcement made on Instagram on June 11, 2025, the airline confirmed that it had suspended all flights effective immediately.
“We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today, June 11, 2025,” read the official statement.
The airline urged all affected travelers not to proceed to the airport and instead seek refunds through their credit card companies or travel agents.
“Please do not go to the airport. All credit card purchases should be refunded through your credit card company or your travel agency,” the airline added.
Silver Airways operated a limited number of domestic routes within Florida — specifically to Tampa, Key West, Tallahassee, and Pensacola — as well as several international destinations in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Bankruptcy and Closure
The airline had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2024, just days after celebrating its 13th anniversary on social media with a post that read:
“Here’s to 13 years of connecting communities, creating memories, and flying forward into an exciting future together.”
At the time, Silver had reassured customers that flights would continue as normal, calling the bankruptcy a “strategic step” aimed at long-term restructuring:
“This decision allows us to secure additional resources and restructure for long-term success, ensuring we continue to deliver safe, reliable, and comfortable travel experiences.”
However, according to Silver’s latest statement, the attempt to restructure involved a sale of assets to another airline holding company, which ultimately decided not to continue Silver’s flight operations in Florida and beyond.
Passenger Reactions
Many passengers learned about the cancellations only after reaching the airport.
“I woke up at 4:00 a.m., saw a notification, looked at it, thinking it was a reminder again to check in, and that’s when we were told that it was canceled,” said Melissa Helfer, a passenger scheduled to travel to Key West, in a statement to ABC News.
About the Airline
Silver Airways had positioned itself as a modern, customer-friendly regional carrier, operating fuel-efficient turboprop aircraft. Their marketing once highlighted the lack of middle seats, encouraging flyers to:
“Fly in style, not in a squeeze!”
Despite its ambitions and niche network, the airline has now joined a growing list of small regional carriers unable to withstand economic pressures and industry shifts post-pandemic.