Seaborne Airlines
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1992 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Founder | Ken Dole, Charles Slagle |
| Headquarters | Carolina , Puerto Rico |
Area served | Caribbean (including U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Antigua, Sint Maarten) |
Key people | Thomas Hanley (executive director, 2023) |
| Products | Passenger air transport (seaplane and land-based flights) |
| Parent | Silver Airways (since April 2018; independent since June 2025) |
Seaborne Virgin Island Inc, known commercially as Seaborne Airlines, is a FAR Part 121 certified carrier based in Carolina, Puerto Rico, in proximity to San Juan. The airline specializes in seaplane shuttle services connecting St. Croix and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Initially headquartered in the US Virgin Islands, the company transitioned its base to Puerto Rico in 2014.
Seaborne became a subsidiary of Silver Airways in April 2018. Following Silver Airways’ cessation of operations and asset liquidation on June 11, 2025, Seaborne declared its intention to maintain independent flight operations. Presently, Seaborne’s hub is located at Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base on St. Croix, offering daily De Havilland DHC-6-300 flights to St. Thomas.
History
Established in 1992 on St. Croix by Ken Dole and Charles Slagle, Seaborne initially provided seaplane sightseeing tours before commencing scheduled flights in 1994 and achieving FAR Part 121 certification by 1997. The entry of new investors in 2000 facilitated the expansion into land-based air services. By 2001, the airline was operating seaplane routes between St. Croix and San Juan’s Isla Grande Airport. In 2008, it introduced land-based flights from St. Thomas and St. Croix to San Juan under the "Seaborne Airshuttle" brand.
Over the following decade, Seaborne broadened its Caribbean network by adding destinations such as Vieques (2010), Tortola and Virgin Gorda (2012), Dominica (2013), Saint Kitts and Nevis (2014), Anguilla (2015), Antigua (2015), and Sint Maarten (2014). To support this regional growth, Saab 340B aircraft were incorporated into the fleet starting in 2013.
The airline forged interline and codeshare agreements with prominent carriers including American Airlines (since 2013), JetBlue (from 2013/2015), Delta Air Lines (from 2014/2016), United Airlines (2014), and Air Europa (2015). These partnerships enhanced travel connections throughout the Caribbean and major US hubs.
In late 2013, Seaborne shifted its headquarters from St. Croix to San Juan, Puerto Rico, completing this relocation by early 2014. A codeshare partnership with Vieques Air Link was also established in 2017.
After facing financial difficulties following the 2017 hurricane season, Seaborne filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2018 and secured a $4.2 million credit facility. Silver Airways acquired the airline in April 2018 and integrated their reservation systems by September 2019.
Silver Airways filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 30, 2024, yet continued operating with plans to emerge by Q1 of 2025. Nonetheless, on June 11, 2025, Silver Airways ceased all operations and liquidated assets; despite this, Seaborne Airlines continues to operate independently.
Corporate affairs
The airline’s headquarters are situated within the CAF2 building at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Prior to its acquisition by Silver Airways in 2018, Gary Foss held the roles of president and CEO at Seaborne. After the acquisition, Steve Rossum, CEO of Silver Airways, assumed leadership of the merged entity. In 2023, Rossum appointed Thomas Hanley as executive director of Seaborne to revitalize and expand its service offerings. Currently, Seaborne operates the only seaplane service in the Virgin Islands between St Thomas and St Croix on a daily basis, with plans to introduce additional destinations during 2024.
Destinations
Seaborne Airlines currently serves or has previously flown to the destinations listed below. This compilation does not include routes operated exclusively by its parent company, Silver Airways, with which Seaborne collaborates at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
Interline agreements
Seaborne Airlines has established interline partnerships with the following carriers:
- United Airlines
- Hahn Air
The airline has entered into codeshare arrangements with:
Current fleet
As of December 2020, Seaborne Airlines operates the aircraft listed below:[1][2]
| Aircraft type | Number in service | Pending orders | Seating capacity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 2 | — | 15 | Dedicated to seaplane operations. |
| Total | 2 |
Fleet development
Leased from Kenn Borek Air, Seaborne’s Twin Otter aircraft are equipped with Wipline 13000 floats and operate frequent flights connecting the seaplane terminals at St. Croix and St. Thomas.[3][4]
In April 2013, the airline added Saab 340 aircraft to its fleet for all land-based routes.[5] The Saab 340 fleet consists of eight planes, each adorned with distinctive marine animal tail art, comprising six former American Eagle aircraft and two acquired from Formosa Airlines. Prior to the addition of Saab 340s, Twin Otters managed both water and land operations.
External links
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- Articles with short description
- 1992 establishments in the United States Virgin Islands
- Airlines of the United States Virgin Islands
- Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Airlines established in 1992
- Airlines of Puerto Rico
- Seaplane operators
- 2014 establishments in Puerto Rico
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024
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