Silver Airways Collapses Mid-Flight, Shuts Down Operations Across Florida and the Caribbean

By Deandrea Hamilton, Editor

Turks and Caicos, June 20, 2025 – A failed sale and unsustainable routes have grounded Silver Airways permanently, leaving travelers in Florida, the Bahamas, and the wider Caribbean without a critical air link and hundreds of airline staff suddenly jobless — some reportedly without severance.

In the early hours of June 11, Silver Airways, a Fort Lauderdale-based regional carrier, abruptly ceased all operations and issued a stark message on its now-defunct website and social media pages: “We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today.”

The collapse followed the withdrawal of a potential buyer during Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. That buyer had agreed to purchase Silver’s assets but ultimately deemed the carrier’s Caribbean and regional U.S. routes financially unviable, leaving Silver without the funding needed to continue flying.

Passengers, some en route to the airport, were told bluntly “Do not go to the airport.” Flights were immediately grounded and customer service lines disconnected. Travelers who purchased tickets with credit cards have been advised to seek refunds directly through their bank or travel agency.                                                                                                                                                    Silver’s shutdown affects key routes between Florida and Caribbean destinations, including the Bahamas — a region heavily reliant on small carrier service to maintain tourism traffic and inter-island mobility. Cities like Tampa, Key West, Tallahassee, and Pensacola now face connectivity gaps. On some of these routes, Silver was the sole or most frequent operator.

For those impacted, the U.S. Department of Transportation mandates full refunds when airlines cancel flights without offering alternatives. However, with Silver Airways now shuttered and its support systems offline, travelers must file disputes with credit card issuers. Those who paid via cash or debit face more complex outcomes through the bankruptcy process — a process that may take months or longer.

Adding to the fallout are reports of unpaid employee wages. Staff were reportedly blindsided by the shutdown and some are owed as much as $100,000 in severance and back pay, raising concerns about how the airline handled its final days.

Silver’s demise underscores the ongoing volatility in the U.S. regional airline industry, where rising operational costs and shrinking profit margins are placing smaller carriers at risk. For now, its sudden disappearance leaves a void in the Caribbean travel network — and a harsh lesson in the fragility of niche air service.