Silver Airways Cancels Orlando Flights Amid Lessor Dispute
Silver Airways (3M, Fort Lauderdale International) has cancelled all flights to and from Orlando International due to an ongoing dispute with some of its lessors—a development unfolding as the carrier works through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
In a statement to ch-aviation, Silver Airways noted that while its restructuring had been progressing “exceedingly well,” lessor TrueNoord abruptly reversed its previously stated position. The company was suddenly required to pay millions of dollars to retain the ATR42-600s and ATR72-600 it has been operating for years. TrueNoord further mandated the immediate grounding of the leased fleet, forcing Silver Airways to cancel all scheduled flights to and from Orlando.
The cancellations affect Silver’s scheduled services from Orlando, which included flights to Fort Lauderdale International, Key West International, Marsh Harbour, and Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional. Orlando accounted for 9.14% of Silver Airways’ scheduled operations and was its fifth largest market by capacity. The Greater Orlando Airport Authority (GOAA) confirmed on Fox 35 Orlando that it received notification on Saturday that all departing and arriving Silver Airways flights were cancelled, though no further details were provided.
Despite the disruption at Orlando, Silver Airways will continue to operate from other key bases, including Fort Lauderdale, Tampa International, and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin. The dispute with lessors is part of broader challenges faced by Silver Airways and its subsidiary, Seaborne Airlines, as they navigate a fleet reduction required under the bankruptcy reorganization. The airline is returning three ATR turboprops to TrueNoord and three ATR42-600s to Nordic Aviation Capital, while Seaborne will return one DHC-6-300 to Kenn Borek Air.
Following these changes, Silver Airways now operates a reduced fleet comprising three ATR42-600s (leased from Azorra) and five ATR72-600s (three from Azorra and two from Jetstream Aviation Capital). The dispute itself originated in February after Nordic Aviation Capital filed an objection regarding Silver Airways’ use of cash collateral, arguing that the carrier violated lease agreements by removing engines and parts from its leased aircraft without replacing them.
As the restructuring and disputes continue, Silver Airways remains under pressure to resolve these issues while ensuring minimal disruption to its network and customer service. The cancellation of the Orlando flights is a tangible consequence of these challenges, reflecting the broader difficulties the carrier faces during its ongoing reorganization process.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com