With Silver Airways officially ceasing operations this week, Seaborne Airlines confirmed to the Source that it has formally ended its affiliation with the Florida-based carrier and is actively soliciting bids for the sale of its own operations.
In a statement provided Wednesday, Seaborne Executive Director of Operations Philip Lambrechts said the regional carrier is continuing to operate as normal. “The aircraft recently completed an extensive corrosion inspection and was put back into service on June 8,” he said. “There will be no scheduled flights on June 21 and 22 due to scheduled maintenance on the aircraft.” Lambrechts added that Seaborne is currently accepting bids for purchase, with the process expected to close by the second week of July and a sale finalized by August 1, 2025.
The update comes as Silver Airways—a once-prominent regional airline serving Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean—collapsed on June 11 after failing to secure a viable buyer through its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. In a notice to travelers this week, the airline abruptly instructed customers: “Please do not go to the airport.” Flights were halted systemwide, stranding passengers across multiple cities and islands.
According to the Associated Press, Silver’s shutdown followed the failure of a bankruptcy auction in which no bids exceeded a $5.7 million offer from Wexford Capital—the airline’s primary creditor and stalking horse bidder. Wexford assumed Silver’s assets but chose not to continue operations, citing overwhelming liabilities and a diminished fleet. As of this week, Silver’s entire operation—including eight active Saab 340 aircraft and roughly 348 employees—has been grounded.
The airline, which purchased Seaborne in 2018 as part of an expansion effort in the Caribbean, had long struggled with mounting debt and operational cuts. As of April, Silver listed more than $100 million in liabilities, and its presence in key markets such as Tampa and Fort Lauderdale had significantly shrunk. Its grounding this week disrupted travel at major airports throughout the region.
While Silver and Seaborne previously operated jointly under a shared brand and route network, Lambrechts confirmed that relationship has now ended.
Silver Airways acquired Seaborne in 2018 following both carriers’ emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with the aim of creating a stronger regional network across Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Under the affiliation, Seaborne operated flights using its own aircraft and crews, while ticketing, scheduling, and marketing were integrated into Silver’s system.
St. Croix Source
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