by Ernice Gilbert (VI Consortium) South Florida-based airline Silver Airways, which purchased Seaborne Airlines in 2018 and is known for providing flights to major cities in Florida and the Bahamas, is at risk of having its lease terminated at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to a report in the Sun Sentinel South Florida.
Broward County officials state that the airline is behind on rent, according to the report, with County Mayor Lamar Fisher explaining, “Business is business. One needs to pay their bills or they need to move on.” The County Commission is set to vote on the termination next Tuesday.
Silver Airways, which has been operating out of Broward’s airport since 2015, reportedly owes the aviation department nearly $958,000 in fees and late charges as of December. This figure is calculated after the county took the airline’s $113,634 security deposit, according to a letter and email sent to the company’s CEO, the Sun Sentinel reported. The county has also requested an additional $407,000 to replenish the security deposit.
Broward County District 5 Commissioner Steve Geller has attempted to intervene and assist with negotiations, expressing his preference for having more airlines rather than fewer. Despite his efforts, Mr. Geller says that the airport director and Silver Airways have “different definitions of ‘good-faith negotiations’.” He also acknowledges that any gate left vacant by Silver would quickly be taken by another airline.
