Silver Airways Blames Anguilla for Exit
So, Silver Airways, in a rather theatrical turn of events, has found itself embroiled in a little squabble with the government of Anguilla. And I must say, it’s a spectacle that doesn’t quite paint the airline in the best light.
Silver Airways Suspends Anguilla Flights Indefinitely
Our pals at Silver Airways, based in sunny Florida, seem to be cutting their seasonal service between San Juan (SJU) and Anguilla (AXA) a tad earlier than scheduled. You’d think they’d make a grand announcement, but no! Instead, we got an odd little note on their social media stating the following:
“We are suspending our operations in AXA (Anguilla) effective immediately. Unfortunately, we have been put in this difficult position because the government of Anguilla is asking Silver to violate US law and we refused to do so. We regret inconveniencing our loyal customers and harming the citizens of Anguilla who rely on tourism for their livelihoods; we have been given no other choice by the Anguillan authorities.”
Now, at first glance, their reasoning sparked a bit of skepticism. I mean, seriously—what kind of an excuse is “they’re asking us to break US law”? Give us some details, Silver! If you’re cutting routes, at least enlighten your customers on what laws are on the chopping block.
And let’s not forget, Silver Airways isn’t exactly riding high on their financial horse—having recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. So, yeah, that’s probably not just a coincidence here. It didn’t take long for Anguilla to fire back…
Silver Airways Racked Up $103K+ in Unpaid Fees in Anguilla
The government of Anguilla has thrown a shade or two at Silver Airways, and honestly, they have every right to! They announced that Silver’s winter 2025 seasonal flying permit has been revoked. Why, you ask? Well, it turns out the airline has racked up over $103,000 in unpaid fees to the airport, debts that stretch back way before their bankruptcy whispers.
Before filing for Chapter 11, Silver Airways ignored numerous attempts to settle the outstanding bills that piled up since May 2023. On September 3, 2024, they were formally warned that failure to cough up the due amount would have them shown the door. Guess what? They decided to skip out on that little detail.
Now, here’s where things get murky: Silver Airways has informed the government—wait for it—that they’re legally unable to pay or enter into any repayment agreements. So, in short, they’re stuck in bankruptcy limbo, and still asking if they can continue to operate in Anguilla.
Here’s the kicker: The airline didn’t provide any follow-up on their hypothetical ability to repay this debt in the future. How thoughtful.
It’s a bit of a low blow, really. Silver has a reputation for dodging payments—almost getting booted from its Fort Lauderdale hub due to similar unpaid fees. Can you believe that? They’ve amassed a staggering $103,000 in unpaid dues at a relatively smaller airport, with repeated government warnings about the consequences. And still, they somehow think they can wrangle their way out of this mess by throwing Anguilla under the bus.
Now, remind me again—who exactly is in the wrong here? It’s not that Anguilla is framing Silver as the villain in a legal drama; it’s merely the airline refusing to confront the consequences of their financial shenanigans.
And then there’s the audacity of Silver Airways to express their regrets about the fallout affecting the people of Anguilla. They cry out about the harm caused, but it’s pretty simple: how about tackling the bills you owe to help those very citizens? The way they’re handling this is just a tad sketchy, don’t you think?
Bottom Line
So here we are, folks—Silver Airways has officially suspended flights to Anguilla, citing the government’s supposed legal demands as their reason for jumping ship. They claim to be playing the law-abiding hero, yet the real story lurking beneath is that they’ve dragged along a hefty debt load at the airport while shunning any responsibility for it.
In short, they didn’t lift a finger to address the financial mess before or after dipping into bankruptcy, and it seems the government of Anguilla has finally had enough.
So, what’s your take on this whole Silver Airways and Anguilla predicament? Feel free to explore more on topics like travel to Val Seny ski resort. Who doesn’t love a little adventure on the slopes, right?