Silver Airways
A former American regional airline focused on Florida, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean markets.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Silver Airways was an American regional airline that operated short-haul scheduled passenger services, primarily from Florida to destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean, together with selected domestic routes in the United States. The airline was headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale, and maintained important operating bases at Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and later San Juan, Puerto Rico. The brand emerged from the restructuring of Gulfstream International Airlines. Gulfstream International filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2010, and Victory Park Capital subsequently acquired assets of Gulfstream International Group, including a fleet of Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. The successor airline was relaunched as Silver Airways on December 15, 2011. It initially operated a mixture of Essential Air Service routes, regional connectivity, and flights under the Continental Connection brand. Following the merger of Continental Airlines into United Airlines, Silver operated as United Express until that affiliation ended in July 2013. During its early years, Silver expanded beyond its South Florida base. It introduced Saab 340 service, developed routes within Florida and to the Bahamas, and briefly established a Montana operation serving communities supported by federal Essential Air Service contracts. It also operated or explored subsidized service from several other U.S. regions, including markets associated with Atlanta, Cleveland, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Network changes were frequent, reflecting the economics of small turboprop markets and the airline's effort to concentrate on routes with sustainable demand. Silver pursued a fleet and operating-model transition during the 2010s. It consolidated Saab 340 operations, rationalized routes, obtained additional financing, completed its first IATA Operational Safety Audit in 2014, and developed a major maintenance facility at Orlando International Airport. The airline also established interline, codeshare, and commercial relationships with larger carriers, including United, JetBlue, Delta, and American. In 2016, it applied to serve multiple Cuban destinations and was authorized for nine cities but not Havana. In 2017, Silver announced an order for ATR 42-600 aircraft, beginning a transition toward newer ATR turboprops. The acquisition of Seaborne Airlines, announced in 2018, strengthened Silver's presence in the Caribbean and gave it a larger San Juan operating platform. Silver later introduced its own branded services from San Juan, while continuing to operate alongside the Seaborne business. The company also entered the air-cargo market through contract flying for Amazon Air beginning in 2021, using ATR 72 aircraft configured for freight. That arrangement ended in July 2023. Silver's later years were marked by financial and operational pressure. The airline faced an airport eviction dispute related to unpaid rent, reduced flying from Orlando in 2025, and a series of aircraft departures. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 30, 2024, initially intending to continue operating and reorganize. On June 11, 2025, its assets were sold to Wexford Capital after no competing bid emerged. Wexford elected not to continue the airline's flight operations, and Silver Airways ceased flying. The company's Chapter 11 case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation on July 29, 2025.
History
Silver Airways developed from the bankruptcy and asset restructuring of Gulfstream International Airlines. Gulfstream International Airlines sought Chapter 11 protection in November 2010. In May 2011, Victory Park Capital acquired assets of Gulfstream International Group, including Beechcraft 1900D aircraft that had been associated with the former Continental Connection operation. The resulting airline adopted the Silver Airways name and began flying under that identity on December 15, 2011. The early Silver network combined Florida regional flying, Bahamas service, and federally supported Essential Air Service routes. In 2012, the airline expanded its Saab 340 fleet and moved its maintenance activity from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville Regional Airport, taking over a vacant facility formerly associated with Eclipse Aviation. Silver added routes within Florida and expanded from Washington Dulles, Atlanta, and other locations. It also operated a Montana network based at Billings, serving several small communities with government-supported service. That operation was wound down in 2013 after subsidies for important Montana markets were removed or reassigned. Silver's relationship with United Airlines continued after the Continental-United merger, with Silver operating as United Express until July 2013. The airline subsequently emphasized a more independent identity and its own reservations system. Management described the business as a hybrid of a start-up and a turnaround, with a strategy of concentrating aircraft and capacity in markets where the economics were more favorable. In 2014, Silver obtained additional financing, completed its first IOSA audit, and announced a JetBlue partnership. It also invested in a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility at Orlando International Airport. The company later ended Gainesville service amid financial and payment difficulties associated with its Gainesville maintenance hangar. During the mid-2010s, Silver continued adjusting its network and fleet. It reduced or ended several Beechcraft-based and Atlanta operations, added service from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, and applied to operate from Florida to multiple Cuban destinations. Regulatory approval covered nine Cuban cities but not Havana. In 2016, a majority stake in Silver was acquired by Versa Capital Management. In 2017, the airline announced an order for ATR 42-600 aircraft, establishing the ATR family as a central part of its fleet renewal program. The 2018 acquisition of Seaborne Airlines broadened Silver's Caribbean presence and added a San Juan-based platform. Silver later developed its own services from San Juan while maintaining the acquired Caribbean network. In 2019, it established codeshare arrangements with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines that enabled combined ticketing and baggage transfers for selected Caribbean itineraries. Some planned network initiatives were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, although service to Charleston from Florida cities eventually began in late 2020. Silver also operated outside traditional passenger flying. Beginning in November 2021, it performed contract feeder flights for Amazon Air with ATR 72 aircraft converted or configured for cargo. Amazon ended the arrangement in July 2023. The airline subsequently encountered increasing financial pressure. In April 2023, it faced an eviction dispute at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport over unpaid rent dating back to 2021. In 2025, it sharply reduced operations, including ending flying from Orlando, while aircraft were progressively removed from the active fleet. Silver filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 30, 2024. Although it initially planned to continue operating and emerge from restructuring, the case deteriorated. In June 2025, Silver's assets were sold to Wexford Capital after no other participating bidder offered to acquire them. Wexford did not intend to preserve the airline's flying operation. Silver's final flight arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport late on June 10, and the airline ceased all operations on June 11. The bankruptcy case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation on July 29, 2025.
- 2025
Operations discontinued
[1]The airline ceased all flights after its assets were sold to Wexford Capital.
- 2024
Chapter 11 filing
[1]Silver filed for bankruptcy protection while stating that it intended to reorganize and continue operating.
- 2021
Amazon Air contract begins
[1]Silver entered contract cargo flying with ATR 72 aircraft.
- 2018
Seaborne Airlines acquisition announced
[1]The transaction expanded Silver's presence in the Caribbean and San Juan.
- 2016
Majority stake acquired by Versa Capital Management
[1]A majority interest in the airline changed hands through a private-equity transaction.
- 2014
First IOSA audit completed
[1]Silver completed its first IATA Operational Safety Audit.
- 2013
United Express affiliation ends
[1]Silver stopped operating as United Express after the Continental-United integration period.
- 2011
Silver Airways begins flying
[1]The new airline launched on December 15 using assets acquired from Gulfstream International Group.
- 2010
Gulfstream International Airlines files for Chapter 11
[1]The predecessor airline entered bankruptcy protection, leading to a later asset acquisition and rebranding.
Products and positioning
Regional airline providing short-haul connectivity in Florida, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean, with additional subsidized domestic and contract-cargo operations during parts of its history.
Air transportation · 2011
Scheduled regional passenger service
Silver's core offering was scheduled short-haul passenger transportation. Its network concentrated on Florida, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the wider Caribbean, with additional domestic regional routes and Essential Air Service flying at different points in the company's history. Services were operated with regional turboprop aircraft rather than large mainline jets.
International regional aviation · 2011
Caribbean and Bahamas services
Flights linking Florida and San Juan with island destinations formed an important part of Silver's identity. The acquisition of Seaborne Airlines in 2018 expanded the company's Caribbean footprint and supported a San Juan-based network.
Subsidized regional aviation · 2011
Essential Air Service operations
Silver operated federally supported flights to selected small U.S. communities. These contracts helped connect rural airports but also made parts of the network dependent on government subsidy decisions. Montana service ended in 2013 after important subsidies were withdrawn or reassigned.
Air cargo · 2021
Amazon Air feeder service
From November 2021 until July 2023, Silver operated ATR 72 cargo feeder flights for Amazon Air. The aircraft served routes from Albuquerque and Des Moines to Amazon's Fort Worth Alliance hub and carried Prime Air branding.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Cuba service application
Florida · Cuba
Silver sought approval to connect five Florida cities with ten Cuban destinations.
Outcome. Regulators authorized nine Cuban destinations but did not grant the requested Havana route.
- 2014Independent airline positioning
United States · Caribbean
Silver presented itself as an independent hybrid carrier while maintaining selected relationships with larger airlines.
Outcome. The airline launched its own reservations system and continued pursuing interline and codeshare relationships.
- 2013Florida and Bahamas network expansion
Florida · The Bahamas
Silver promoted an expanded intra-Florida and Florida-Bahamas network as it concentrated on its core regional markets.
Outcome. The network remained central to the brand, although routes were repeatedly adjusted as the airline rationalized its operations.
Brand decisions
2025
Sell assets and discontinue flight operationsOtherBackground
No competing bid emerged during the bankruptcy sale process, and the successful buyer did not intend to continue Silver's airline operation.
Action taken
Silver sold its assets to Wexford Capital and ceased all flights on June 11, 2025.
Aftermath
The Chapter 11 case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation on July 29, 2025.
2024
Enter Chapter 11 restructuringStrategyBackground
The airline faced financial and operational pressure after years of network adjustments and the loss of its Amazon cargo contract.
Action taken
Silver filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and initially planned to continue operating during the reorganization.
Aftermath
The restructuring did not produce a continuing airline operation. Assets were sold in June 2025, and the case later converted to Chapter 7 liquidation.
2018
Acquire Seaborne AirlinesM&ABackground
Silver aimed to strengthen its Caribbean network and establish a larger platform in San Juan.
Action taken
Silver announced the acquisition of Seaborne Airlines.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Silver's Caribbean presence and supported later San Juan-based services.
2017
Order ATR 42-600 aircraftProduct launchBackground
Silver sought to modernize and rationalize its turboprop fleet for short-haul regional routes.
Action taken
The airline announced an order for 20 ATR 42-600 aircraft, with options for up to 30 additional aircraft.
Aftermath
ATR aircraft became a major part of Silver's later passenger and cargo operations.
2011
Rebrand the Gulfstream successor as Silver AirwaysStrategyBackground
Assets of the former Gulfstream International Group were acquired after its predecessor entered bankruptcy protection.
Action taken
The airline adopted the Silver Airways name and began operations under the new brand on December 15, 2011.
Aftermath
Silver became the operating successor to Gulfstream's regional network and aircraft assets.
Recent events
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