Silver Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Defunct | 2025-06-11 |
| Fate | Ceased operations after asset sale to Wexford Capital |
| Headquarters | Hollywood, Florida , United States |
Area served | United States, Caribbean, Bahamas |
Key people | Dave Pflieger (CEO from 2013) |
| Products | Regional airline services |
Silver Airways operated as a regional airline based in Hollywood, Florida, close to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Established in 2011 utilizing assets acquired from the former Gulfstream International Airlines, it managed scheduled flights out of hubs located at Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Flight operations commenced on December 15, 2011.
By November 2013, Silver Airways was receiving federal subsidies exceeding $20 million annually for delivering Essential Air Service to rural airports across the United States.
On June 11, 2025, Silver Airways terminated all flight operations after divesting its assets to Wexford Capital, which decided to discontinue the airline's activities.
History
On November 4, 2010, Gulfstream International Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In May 2011, Victory Park Capital purchased Gulfstream’s assets, including a fleet of 21 Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. Previously, the company had operated as Continental Connection under Continental Airlines.
The airline rebranded as Silver Airways on December 15, 2011, coinciding with the delivery of its first Saab 340 out of a total of six. Following Continental Airlines’ merger into United Airlines in April 2012, Silver Airways operated flights under the United Express brand until July 2013.
Early in 2012, Silver shifted its maintenance operations from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville Regional Airport and expanded its Saab 340 fleet to twelve aircraft. It initiated scheduled services across Florida and the Bahamas and introduced new routes linking Gainesville with Orlando and Tampa.
Throughout 2012, Silver broadened its route network by adding destinations from Washington Dulles to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia while enhancing Florida service with flights to Jacksonville. Additionally, new routes launched from Atlanta to destinations in Mississippi and Alabama. In late 2011, Silver began operations in Montana serving eight cities through Essential Air Service contracts; however, these services ceased by mid-2013.
In February 2013, Victory Park Capital appointed aviation industry veteran Dave Pflieger as CEO to drive expansion efforts. By June of that year, Silver announced it would withdraw from Montana due to reductions in Department of Transportation subsidies impacting key markets.
Silver continued growth in Florida and the Bahamas through late 2013 and was recognized as one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 10 Best U.S. Airlines that year.
In early 2014, Silver discontinued Beechcraft 1900 operations based in Cleveland and downsized its Atlanta network to reallocate aircraft resources elsewhere. Victory Park Capital secured up to $73 million in additional funding aimed at bolstering network development and upgrading the Saab fleet. That same year, Silver successfully completed its initial IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).
May 2014 marked the launch of a partnership with JetBlue alongside the introduction of an independent reservations system. CEO Pflieger characterized the airline as a hybrid carrier concentrating on streamlining its fleet and route structure for sustainable growth.
In January 2015, Silver added Panama City, Florida as a destination with flights connecting to Orlando and Tampa while also beginning nonstop service between Jacksonville and Tampa.
February 2015 saw the opening of a new $38,000 square-foot maintenance facility at Orlando International Airport under a long-term lease agreement. However, by August that year, Silver ceased service to Gainesville following adjustments in maintenance payment structures.
In March 2016, Silver submitted applications for routes from five Florida cities to ten Cuban destinations but was denied access to Havana routes.
By June 2016, Silver collaborated with Great Lakes Airlines and Frontier Airlines on pilot recruitment efforts. In September, private equity firm Versa Capital Management acquired a controlling interest in the airline.
In August 2017, Silver placed an order for twenty ATR 42-600 aircraft with options for up to thirty additional planes.
On April 23, 2018, Silver expanded its Caribbean footprint by acquiring Seaborne Airlines. By November 2019, it had established codeshare agreements with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines to facilitate integrated booking across Caribbean routes.
Early in 2020, Silver announced plans for new service from Florida hubs to Charleston International Airport; however, launch was delayed due to COVID-19 impacts before commencing service in November.
Following the Seaborne acquisition, Silver began phased introduction of ATR-600 series aircraft at its San Juan base throughout 2020.
On November 9, 2021, Silver commenced contract flying for Amazon Air utilizing ATR 72-500 freighter aircraft but concluded this partnership in July 2023.
On December 30, 2024, Silver filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection intending to maintain operations during restructuring and emerge from bankruptcy by early 2025.
Nevertheless, on March 2, 2025, Silver abruptly halted all Orlando operations with several aircraft relocated away from the hub. The fleet reduction continued through spring as planes were transferred internationally.
By April of that year, the company issued warnings that bankruptcy proceedings could convert into Chapter 7 liquidation.
On June 11, 2025, after no competing bids surfaced for its assets, Silver sold itself to Wexford Capital which opted against continuing flight services—resulting in an immediate shutdown. The airline’s final flight occurred on June 10 from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale.
Facilities
Silver Airways maintained its corporate offices at 2850 Greene Street in Hollywood, Florida, in close proximity to Fort Lauderdale. The airline's former headquarters were situated in Dania Beach, Florida. Additionally, it operated a maintenance center at Orlando International Airport, utilizing a facility that was previously occupied by Comair. In April 2023, the airline encountered eviction proceedings at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport due to outstanding rent payments dating back to 2021.
Destinations
Silver Airways primarily offered scheduled commercial services from its main hubs located in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa, Florida. The carrier also operated Essential Air Service routes originating from Atlanta (Georgia), Billings (Montana), Boston (Massachusetts), Cleveland (Ohio), and Washington, D.C. On the international front, it connected Florida with destinations in the Bahamas and initiated flights from San Juan (Puerto Rico) to various Caribbean locations in March 2020, in partnership with its subsidiary Seaborne Airlines.
Prior to halting operations on June 11, 2025, Silver Airways served a wide array of destinations throughout the Caribbean and the United States. Its principal markets included the Bahamas, Puerto Rico—where its primary hub was located—and several hubs within Florida. Over time, many routes to smaller U.S. cities and Essential Air Service locations were discontinued as part of a strategic refocus on core markets.
| Country (State) or Territory | City | Airport | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla | The Valley | Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Saint John's | V. C. Bird International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| Bahamas | Bimini | South Bimini Airport | ||
| Cat Island | New Bight Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Freeport | Grand Bahama International Airport | |||
| George Town | Exuma International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Governor's Harbour | Governor's Harbour Airport | |||
| Marsh Harbour | Marsh Harbour Airport | |||
| Nassau | Lynden Pindling International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| North Eleuthera | North Eleuthera Airport | |||
| Treasure Cay | Treasure Cay Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| British Virgin Islands | Tortola | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport | ||
| Dominica | Portsmouth | Douglas–Charles Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| Dominican Republic | La Romana | La Romana International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| Santiago de los Caballeros | Cibao International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Puerto Plata | Gregorio Luperón International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Puerto Rico | San Juan | Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport | Template:Airline hub | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Basseterre | Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport | ||
| Saint Maarten | Philipsburg | Princess Juliana International Airport | ||
| Turks and Caicos | Providenciales | Providenciales International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| United States (Alabama) | Birmingham | Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| Huntsville | Huntsville International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Muscle Shoals | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| United States (District of Columbia) | Washington, D.C. | Washington Dulles International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| United States (Florida) | Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach International Airport | Template:Terminated | |
| Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport | Template:Airline hub | ||
| Fort Myers | Southwest Florida International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Fort Walton Beach | Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Gainesville | Gainesville Regional Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Key West | Key West International Airport | |||
| Orlando | Orlando International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Panama City | Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport | Template:Terminated | ||
| Pensacola | Pensacola International Airport | |||
| Tallahassee | Tallahassee International Airport | |||
| Tampa | Tampa International Airport | Template:Airline hub | ||
| West Palm Beach | Palm Beach International Airport | Template:Terminated (service restarted in 2024) |
While Silver Airways did not become a member of any prominent international airline alliances, it established interline and codeshare partnerships with various airlines to broaden its service network. Its collaborators included:
- Avianca
- Air Canada
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- All Nippon Airways
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Bahamasair
- Copa Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Emirates
- JetBlue Airways
- United Airlines
Fleet
As of , Silver Airways operated a fleet of eight aircraft, predominantly ATR turboprop models, underscoring its commitment to serving regional routes:[1][2][3]
| Aircraft | In service | Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-600 | 3 | 46 |
| ATR 72-600 | 5 | 70 |
| Total | 8 |
Historical fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft 1900D | 21 | 2011 | 2014 | Acquired from Gulfstream International Airlines |
| Saab 340 | 28 | 2011 | 2022 | |
| ATR 72-500F | 5 | 2021 | 2023 | Contract ended with Amazon Air[3] |