NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Former employees of Silver Airways’ George Town, Exuma station are speaking out following the abrupt closure of the airline’s operations in The Bahamas, saying they were terminated without notice, cut off from internal systems, and left without pay or benefits—even as they claim flights continued under a confidential subcontracting arrangement.
The airline, which offered service between Florida and several Family Islands, including Exuma, Eleuthera, Abaco and Grand Bahama, announced last week that it had ceased all operations effective June 11, 2025. In a customer advisory, Silver Airways said it had entered into a transition agreement to sell its assets to another airline holding company, which had chosen not to continue flight operations.
But for the George Town staff, who say they were left scrambling with no official word from company leadership, the shutdown has felt like “abandonment.”
“On May 17th, without prior notice, written communication, or a gesture of appreciation for our years of dedication and sacrifice, six of our team members were terminated,” the employees wrote. “An additional staff member had previously been dismissed in February, also without receiving any severance pay. None of the seven affected employees have received compensation or transitional support,” the employees stated in a letter.
What has angered the group most, however, is that even after they were dismissed, flights in and out of George Town reportedly continued—under what they described as a government-contracted sub-operator arrangement, raising fresh concerns about transparency.
“Despite our termination, flight operations in George Town continued—reportedly under a confidential arrangement with a government-contracted sub-operator,” the letter states. “This occurred while the company cited bankruptcy status to justify its actions. We raise serious concerns about how a team of seven qualified employees could be dismissed without compensation, only to be replaced covertly under a subcontractor agreement.”
Silver Airways announced in January that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January as part of a financial restructuring plan, but until its shutdown, the airline had continued limited operations in the region.
Adding to their frustration, the employees allege they were locked out of payroll and communication systems after raising their concerns with both the airline’s HR department and the Labour Board.
Following further investigation, the workers claim they also discovered that National Insurance contributions were being deducted from their salaries without being consistently remitted to the National Insurance Board (NIB)—a lapse that has blocked some from accessing unemployment benefits.
“In addition to these unjust terminations, we have discovered that National Insurance contributions were deducted from our paychecks biweekly, but the company did not consistently remit those payments to the National Insurance Board,” the letter continues. “Because of this negligence, former staff members have been denied access to unemployment benefits, leaving us in financial limbo at a time when support is most needed.”
The statement ended with an appeal to authorities and the public to demand answers and accountability.
“Our team—once proud to represent the airline with professionalism and care—deserves far more than abandonment and uncertainty. We call upon relevant government agencies, labor advocates, and the general public to stand with us in seeking transparency, accountability, and justice. Our commitment to service and safety deserved far better.”
Silver Airways has not issued any further public comments since announcing its closure. The airline had operated in The Bahamas for over a decade. Eyewitness News reached out to labour officials for comments but received no response. The abrupt shutdown by Silver Airways appears to have come as a surprise not only to Bahamian staff but also to employees in the United States, with media outlets in Florida reporting that workers there were equally shocked and still awaiting their final paycheques.
