Just when travelers were getting ready for summer trips to the Caribbean and across Florida, one regional airline has pulled the plug—abruptly.

Silver Airways, a small U.S. carrier with a footprint in Florida and the surrounding islands, has officially shut down all operations as of Wednesday.

And they’re not sugarcoating it—passengers were flat-out told not to go to the airport if they had tickets. Yep, don’t even bother showing up.

From Regional Flights to Bankruptcy Woes

Silver Airways had its main hub in Fort Lauderdale and used to fly to destinations like Tampa, Tallahassee, Key West, Pensacola, and even farther out to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the broader Caribbean.

If you’ve flown to Bimini or Nassau, you may have hopped on one of their pink-painted planes at some point.

But behind the scenes, things weren’t looking good.

The airline had been struggling financially and officially filed for bankruptcy in December.

Since then, it’s been on a slow decline, trying to salvage operations and restructure.

A Final Attempt at Survival Falls Flat

The company did try to save itself. According to a statement, Silver entered into a deal with another airline holding company during bankruptcy proceedings in hopes of selling off its assets and maybe staying afloat.

Unfortunately, that buyer backed out of continuing flight services.

The result? Silver had no choice but to halt everything.

In a stark message to customers, the airline said anyone holding a ticket should seek refunds through their credit card companies or travel agencies, because there will be no flights to catch.

No Bidders, No Flights, No Future

Earlier in March, the airline had already suspended operations at Orlando International Airport, which was an early sign of the winding down.

Things only got worse in June, when the company held a bankruptcy auction—and nobody showed up to bid.

Then came the final nail in the coffin: Wexford Capital, a private equity firm and the airline’s financial backer during bankruptcy, bought what was left of the business.

But instead of relaunching or reviving the airline, Wexford pulled the plug.

Employees Told It’s Over—Most Will Be Let Go

Silver’s CEO Steven Rossum didn’t mince words in his goodbye letter to the 350 remaining employees.

In a message obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, he wrote:

“After months navigating through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, our journey at Silver Airways is coming to an end for most of us.”

He added that Wexford Capital would no longer support daily operations or keep most staff on board.

Only a small team will stay temporarily to help with closing things out, managing records, and wrapping up assets.

What About Seaborne?

Not everything is coming to a screeching halt. Seaborne Airlines, which has been a subsidiary of Silver since 2018, will continue operating flights—at least for now.

It’s unclear how long that will last, but for now, it’s business as usual at Seaborne.

A Look Back at Silver’s Short History

Silver Airways wasn’t around for very long. It launched in late 2011, rising from the ashes of the bankrupt Gulfstream International Airways.

With a modest fleet of six 34-seat Saab 340Bplus turboprop planes, it leaned heavily into nostalgia—one of the aircrafts was even bright pink.

Its first CEO, Dave Pflieger, once described their flying style as a throwback to the golden days of air travel.

He referenced a vibe similar to Pan Am or TWA, when flying was more glamorous and personal.

“It’s almost sort of nostalgic-days-of-old flying,” he told The Miami Herald in 2012.

“The Elizabeth Taylor era of walking on the tarmac, getting on the airplane, looking out the window and seeing the propellers.”

The Cuba Chapter That Ended Quietly

At one point, Silver also offered flights to nine Cuban cities, excluding Havana.

But by 2017, those routes were shut down due to low demand, marking the start of what would become a slow contraction of the airline’s reach.

What Now for Travelers and Employees?

For anyone who had upcoming travel plans on Silver Airways, the message is clear: check with your credit card company or agent for a refund and look for alternative options.

And for employees, it’s a heartbreaking end to what was once a promising regional airline that tried to bring a bit of old-school charm back to the skies.