Dominica government appeals to St Maarten to resume WinAir flights
By TDN Staff Writer
January 23, 2012 8:25 p.m.
Phillipsburg,St Maarten (TDN) - Dominica's minister of public works, energy, sports and civil aviation Rayburn Blackmore have asked St. Maarten’s Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications and Transport (TEATT) Franklin Meyers to resume regularly scheduled flights operated by Windward Islands Airways International (WinAir) between the two countries.
Ministers Blackmore and Meyers along with Bardouille, Policy Advisor to Meyers Judianne Hoeve, Head of the Civil Aviation Department Louis Halley, and TEATT Secretary General Miguel de Weever. |
Blackmore made the request during a recent visit to St Maarten. The ministers discussed the airlines decision in May 2011 to stop flights to and from Dominica. The flights had operated for more than two years and served a very important gateway between Dominica and the rest of the world through St Maarten.,/p>
Minister Meyers reiterated that the flights were ended because of the airline's financial strains and limited equipment. It was however agreed that “a structural solution" would be looked into so flights to Dominica could be resumed. However, no firm dates were given for the resumption and it was not immediately clear what solution was proposed.
When the flights were ended in may, Mr. Claudio Buncamper, Vice President of Marketing & Sales/Customer Service announced that the airline would consider reintroducing flights to Dominica in the future, if there are any guarantees that the flights can be profitable.
Benoit Bardouille the Chief Executive Officer of the Air Sea Ports Authority accompanied the minister on his visit.
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