Silver Airways, a key regional carrier with strong ties to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ transportation network, has announced it will discontinue all flights to Dominica as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.
The decision, revealed after the airline filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection on December 30, 2024, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, also includes the termination of flights to other destinations, notably Orlando, marking a substantial shift in Silver’s operations.
The carrier has canceled bookings for multiple travelers, including those with tickets scheduled through August 2025, the Consortium has learned. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Silver has played a crucial role in inter-island and regional travel, the move raises concerns about connectivity, economic impact, and the future of regional air travel. The USVI is also home to a significant Dominican diaspora, making this change even more consequential.
Silver Airways’ role in the U.S. Virgin Islands is deeply tied to its 2018 acquisition of Seaborne Airlines, a San Juan-based carrier that had long served the territory. Seaborne, which itself went through a Chapter 11 restructuring in 2018before being purchased by Silver, continues to operate flights between St. Thomas and St. Croix using two DHC-6-300 seaplanes, alongside Silver’s broader Caribbean routes from San Juan.
Silver’s relationship with Dominica has also been significant. By 2019, the airline had increased its San Juan-Dominicaservice to daily flights, later adding three additional weekly trips. Flights were scheduled for traveler convenience, with departures from San Juan at 3:15 p.m. and returns from Dominica at 7:15 a.m.. This expansion added an extra 102 weekly seats, benefiting Dominica’s tourism sector, as noted by the Discover Dominica Authority.
By 2023, Silver upgraded its San Juan-Dominica route, replacing its 34-seat Saab 340 with a 48-seat ATR aircraft and increasing flights to six per week by October, operating Monday through Saturday.
While Silver’s decision primarily affects Dominica, its impact on U.S. Virgin Islands travelers is notable. Many passengers from St. Thomas and St. Croix relied on Silver’s San Juan hub as a connecting point to Dominica, facilitating tourism, business, and family travel across the Eastern Caribbean.
With Silver discontinuing the route, travel options are now more limited, potentially leading to higher fares on alternative carriers. American Airlines currently serves Dominica from Miami, while regional carriers like LIAT, WINAIR, and Caribbean Airlines offer connections via Antigua, St. Maarten, or the British Virgin Islands.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte have long advocated for expanded inter-island airlift, and Silver’s withdrawal from Dominica underscores the challenges of maintaining reliable regional connectivity.
Despite the service cuts, Silver Airways remains optimistic about its financial restructuring. In a December 2024 statement, the airline said: “This decision will allow us to secure additional capital and undertake a financial restructuring that will strengthen our position as a competitive airline.”
