WINAIR end flights into Dominica

WINAIR is headquartered in St Maarten.

St. Maarten based, Windward Islands Airways (WinAir) has followed through on a decision announced earlier this year to stop flights to and from Dominica. The lights had operated for more than two years and served a very important gateway between Dominica and the rest of the world through St Maarten.

Mr. Claudio Buncamper, Vice President of Marketing & Sales/Customer Service announced that the airline is presently going through a restructuring, which has made it necessary to remove several unprofitable routes, Dominica being among them.

Mr. Buncamper noted that the last flight into Dominica took place on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Prior to the closure, WINAIR operated daily flights to and from Dominica and St Maarten.

Asked if the airline would consider reintroducing flights to Dominica in the future, Mr. Buncamper said it will depend if there are any guarantees that the flight can be profitable. He stressed that his airline cannot continue to operate loss making routes.

The airline was the only one making use of night landing facilities at the Melville Hall airport.

WINAIR code shared with Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air Caraibes, Continental, US Airways, Delta, Insel Air and KLM Midlands among others, which saw passengers to and from Dominica having their bags tagged throughout their journey.

Flights to the British Virgin Islands were also ended but the airline spokesman indicated that they would continue to services Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barths and Nevis, which were the core destinations when the company began operations a few years ago.