A Florida-based regional airline abruptly stopped all flight operations on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, after announcing it had filed for bankruptcy. The sudden closure left many travelers stranded across Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, where the airline operated.
In a statement posted on its social media pages, the airline said, “We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today, June 11, 2025.” The company explained that it was trying to restructure through bankruptcy but a potential buyer decided not to continue running its flight services.
The airline urged passengers not to go to the airport and assured those who bought tickets using credit cards that they would get full refunds through their credit card companies or travel agencies.
Robert W. Mann, Jr., a former airline executive and current president of an independent airline consultancy, R. W. Mann and Co., explained that passengers who did not pay by credit card might still get refunds, but they will have to wait in line with other creditors of the airline.
“Passengers who need to travel soon will likely have to buy new tickets from other airlines, often at higher prices,” Mann said.
Airline shutdowns are rare in the United States because struggling carriers are usually bought by other airlines or merged to continue operations. However, smaller regional airlines sometimes fail, especially during hard times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, a few small regional airlines that operated for larger carriers went out of business, but the bigger airlines usually adjusted their schedules to cover the affected routes. More recently, another small airline called Tailwind, which ran seaplane services between New York and Boston, shut down in 2024.
The unexpected collapse of this Florida-based airline is a sharp reminder of the challenges facing smaller carriers in a competitive market. Passengers affected by the closure now face inconvenience and extra expenses as they try to rearrange their travel plans.
Travelers are advised to check with their credit card companies and travel agents about refunds and to explore alternative airlines for their journeys. The airline’s sudden shutdown highlights the fragile nature of some regional carriers and the potential risks for passengers relying on them.
