Silver Airways Cancels Flights, Planes Stop Flying: Is The End Near?

Silver Airways Cancels Flights, Planes Stop Flying: Is The End Near?

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In very late 2024, Florida regional carrier Silver Airways filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Silver Airways’ financials have always been a bit of a mystery, since the company is privately owned. However, over the years we’ve heard several stories of airports threatening to kick out the airline, after the company didn’t pay its bills. To state the obvious, that’s not normal for a stable airline.

With this bankruptcy protection filing, the company promised to continue to operate flights as usual, and planned on “emerging stronger” than ever in the first quarter of 2025, with a fresh balance sheet. Well, that doesn’t seem to be how things are playing out…

Silver Airways’ operation is totally breaking down

In recent days, Silver Airways’ operation has become a mess in every way. For one, the flights that actually are operating are largely running many hours late.

For example, just look at the Flightradar24 history in recent days for the plane with the registration code N708SV. At this point, the airline just seems to consistently be running over four hours late, which is super frustrating for passengers, especially when you consider how short most of the carrier’s flights are.

Silver Airways isn’t doing too well

The delayed flights are for those who are actually lucky. The airline has also been canceling quite a few flights, including just completely pulling out of Orlando International Airport (MCO). This was the carrier’s third largest station, and as of this past weekend, all flights from the airport have been canceled.

Passengers reporting showing up at the airport, only to find there were no longer any employees at the airport, and there was simply a sign indicating that customers should contact the airline call center by phone. The airline has also totally stopped updating its flight alerts page, so there’s no indication on Silver Airways’ website that the airline is no longer flying to or from the airport.

Via Fox 35 Orlando, the airport has confirmed that it received notification from the airline that it would cancel all flights effective immediately, but that’s the extent of the communication.

Silver Airways has stopped flying most planes

So, why has Silver Airways’ operation suddenly turned into such a mess, with a vast majority of flights either canceled or severely delayed? It appears that much of the carrier’s fleet has stopped flying in recent days, as flagged by NedsKid over at Enilria.

Silver Airways has 14 ATR turboprops, including eight 42-600s and six ATR 72-600s. At this point, only four of the ATR 42-600s are flying, and two of the ATR 72-600s are flying, at least for passenger flights. Beyond that, a few planes just suddenly stopped flying on February 27, and a couple more planes have been ferried to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (FSD).

So it’s hard to know exactly what’s going on here. In theory, airlines are supposed to be protected from creditors while in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. However, clearly the decision was reached to simply stop operating many routes.

Given how quickly this situation is spiraling, it sure seems likely to me that Silver Airways’ days must be numbered, or something.

Of course that’s sad for the employees, though it seems like this was inevitable, as it doesn’t seem like this was a healthy company even long before the bankruptcy protection filing came. As mentioned above, the airline had a history of not paying airports and even receiving threats to be evicted, which is no way to run a business.

Several of Silver Airways’ planes have stopped flying

Bottom line

Several weeks ago, Silver Airways filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, promising to continue operations as normal. Unfortunately things aren’t looking so good for the airline. In recent days, Silver Airways has completely pulled out of Orlando with no advance notice, other flights are either canceled or operating hours behind schedule, and many planes have seemingly been grounded.

We don’t know what’s going on at the airline, as there’s limited communication, but it’s not looking good…

What do you make of this Silver Airways situation?

Conversations (26)
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  1. An Employee Guest

    In 7 short years, Silver managed to utterly destroy Seaborne Airlines, an acquisition they made to expand to the Caribbean. The management is as clueless as they are toxic. The attrition rate is inordinately high as they fire those who stand up to the atrocious CEO and the employees left holding the bag eventually ditch for better opportunities. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

  2. Bobc Guest

    They just laid off people in maintenance Friday 7 March

  3. Raa Guest

    This is the worse airlines ever. I just got back from Bogota to Fort Lauderale and my flight was changed from 330pm to 12am. I know how this was going to end. I would have been at the airport for 10 hours and they still cancel my flight to Tampa. I just rented a car and drove but it sucks for so many people who couldn't do that. My own fault for reading reading on this airline because my mentality was what could go wrong with a 1 hour flight

  4. Madeline palmieri Guest

    My grandson just left Key west airport he has CP and walks with crutches I ask I he incompetent man at the counter that he needed wheelchair assistance 3 freaking times he was an arrogant bastard that knew everything.
    My grandson is now stranded at Fort Lauderdale airport without a wheelchair he had to the next terminal. He finally got a wheelchair without an attendant when he went to the bathroom the wheelchair was...

    My grandson just left Key west airport he has CP and walks with crutches I ask I he incompetent man at the counter that he needed wheelchair assistance 3 freaking times he was an arrogant bastard that knew everything.
    My grandson is now stranded at Fort Lauderdale airport without a wheelchair he had to the next terminal. He finally got a wheelchair without an attendant when he went to the bathroom the wheelchair was gone. If anything happens to him because of this shitty airline I’m holding them responsible. I don’t give a shit if they claimed bankruptcy I’m going to the media and letting everyone about these jerks especially the jerk at the airline counter.

  5. NedsKid Diamond

    Silver confirmed in a statement... at least 3 "flyable" ATRs were repossessed by leasing coming TrueNoord.

  6. 9volt Diamond

    It was refreshing to see some competition with AA for intra-FL service, as AA seems to have a stranglehold in the intra-FL market, especially in South Florida. And their inflated prices definitely reflect that. I mean, $1,000 for a family of 4 to go from TPA-MIA? Come on now. And with Silver hanging on by a thread, I'm sure those prices will only get worse.

  7. ImmortalSynn Guest

    I'm guessing that the Bright Line trains coming online for intra-Florida connections, didn't do Silver any favors.

  8. BradStPete Diamond

    My partner and I had long talked about grabbing a Silver flight from Tampa to Lauderdale just to do it....sadly I quite sure that ship has sailed.

  9. Tanya Worley Guest

    My husband and I flew this airlines one time and one time only. By far the worst experience ever in every way possible. This really doesn't surprise me nor will it surprise me if they fade away completely.

  10. JB Guest

    Silver still owes me about $110 for a reimbursement for a hotel which I had to book after they canceled my flight almost a year ago (the flight was supposed to take off at 5pm, but was delayed bit by bit until it was canceled at 1am). I was told to book a hotel and submit my receipts to an email address. I still haven't recieved the refund yet. I've heard it's typical for them...

    Silver still owes me about $110 for a reimbursement for a hotel which I had to book after they canceled my flight almost a year ago (the flight was supposed to take off at 5pm, but was delayed bit by bit until it was canceled at 1am). I was told to book a hotel and submit my receipts to an email address. I still haven't recieved the refund yet. I've heard it's typical for them to not process it and then reach out 5 days before the 1 year anniversary and say that there was an error with your submission, and you need to resubmit within 3 days or be unable to recieve your reimbursement permanently.

    Anyone know if there is a way for me to get my money back if Silver goes under? Any help would be appreciated.

    1. NedsKid Diamond

      Realistically? Unfortunately it's not likely you'll see any of that. Or maybe one day two years after a liquidation, if you put in a claim, you'll get a check for $4.65.

      I've gotten a refund for a ticket booked directly with them very quickly, but I also knew someone in authority (at the time) to call directly.

  11. Vinnie Guest

    Looks like two aircraft are en route from Sioux Falls to COE, Couer D’Alene, in Washington state.

    Sad times for 3M.

    1 more reply
  12. Anthony Diamond

    It seems like there is a good amount of service in Florida between Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and Pensacola from the major and low cost airlines. Even Key West has intra Florida flights from American and Allegiant. Silver probably just got outcompeted. I don’t know much about their Caribbean operations, but the Florida stuff is already covered, or will be covered by additional routes/flights

    3 more replies
  13. NedsKid Diamond

    Ben,
    Appreciate the credit for the source!

    Employees for Silver at MCO told me that they were told Thursday night after the last operation that the RON was ferrying out (it went to TPA then later ferried to SJU where their schedule completion seems to be doing better than Florida) and that their employment and/or contract was over.

  14. Tom Guest

    The two ATRs in FSD are flying to COE this morning. Coeur d'Alene is home to Empire Aerospace which performs (among other services) ATR pax to cargo conversions. So I'd assume these two birds are about to have their seats removed!

  15. Joe Guest

    This is unfortunate. There’s certainly a market for intra-Florida air service. It worked for a while; Bummer they couldn’t figure out the formula long term.

  16. AJO Gold

    Hi Ben, the flight history you posted seems to be that of N708SV.

    1 more reply
  17. Jacob Guest

    Been a long time coming for this airline. The writing has been on the wall for a while now.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

David Guest

I've never seen an airline, or other company for that matter, with consistently bad ratings or negative comments like they have. I was going to fly them once, until I saw the reviews.

2
Joe Guest

This is unfortunate. There’s certainly a market for intra-Florida air service. It worked for a while; Bummer they couldn’t figure out the formula long term.

2
Tanya Worley Guest

My husband and I flew this airlines one time and one time only. By far the worst experience ever in every way possible. This really doesn't surprise me nor will it surprise me if they fade away completely.

1
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