You usually hear when “other” airlines are having financial problems. For example, Flybe (UK), Novair (Sweden) and Aeromar (Mexico) are just three of the airlines that declared bankruptcy in 2023. But it always seems sadder when a regional airline near you is showing signs of major financial strain.
In early 2015, Silver Airways and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport made an agreement that gave the airline landing rights at the busy, medium-sized airport.
Things had gone well for several years, but Silver stopped paying rent to the airport in 2021. Because of that, they received notice of default on January 3, 2022. At the time, the airline owed the county over a million dollars.
A day or two later, after discussions between the two entities, it was agreed that Silver would pay the county $546,305.46 on or before Jan. 11, 2022.
Except they never did. And by August, the amount due was nearly $800,000. They still didn’t pay.
About a week ago, Silver Airways was at risk of eviction from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport because the carrier still hadn’t paid its debts to the airport.
FLL is one of Silver Airway’s hubs, along with Orlando, Tampa and San Juan, PR.
The Broward County Commission, scheduled to meet this week, was going to request the OK to terminate the lease agreement with the regional carrier and the county.
However local station WPTV is reporting the eviction won’t happen. Silver Airways and County officials have come to an agreement that will allow the airline to remain at FLL and pay what they owe, now over 1.4 million, in installments.
From WPTV:
Under the terms of the agreement, Silver agrees to make an immediate payment of $200,000 toward its unpaid balance. Silver must make an additional $300,000 payment by May 19, $100,000 by June 16, another $100,000 by July 21 and then make monthly installments on the total outstanding amount owed from August through April 2024.
Joe and I flew on Silver a couple of times, when they were juuuust starting to grow. They had an Orlando-Fort Myers-Key West route that we used a handful of times because it was convenient and, initially reasonably priced. Unfortunately, Silver continued to raise the price on the route and it eventually wasn’t cost-effective for us to take it. We could drive from Orlando to Key West in 7 or 8 hours, with stops, AND would have use of our car if we needed it (we’d also have to pay for parking every night).
That was YEARS ago, though. I just looked and the MCO-RSW-EWY route no longer exists. Instead, there’s a direct flight, which is nice. The prices start at $58 one way, which isn’t bad at all for a flight that’s an hour and twenty minutes.
Although it was a close call, I guess Silver will remain safe at FLL for at least a while. We’ll see if they’ll pay up now…
Feature Photo (cropped): Merco Verch professional Photographer / CC BY 2.0
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