From left: Michel Hyman (operations manager), Lloyd Hinds (director of air traffic control), Maggie Gumbs (marketing officer), Regina Labega (managing director), Rolando Brison (St. Maarten Airways managing director), Jeff Oliver and Elvis Quelly (shareholders St. Maarten Airways), Mike Granger, and Larry Donker (director operations division). Photo SXM
St. Maarten – The management team of the airport will do all within its powers to accommodate St. Maarten Airways, a local enterprise that wants to offer on-demand charter service from the airport. This was the result of a recent meeting between a delegation of the new airline and airport-management.
The airport will look into granting St. Maarten Airways vehicle access to the baggage and transport areas and to the Executive Lounge for the VIP services the airline intends to offer.
St. Maarten Airways aims to start operations around Thanksgiving Day with one aircraft and intends to acquire two additional BN-2 aircrafts from the Dominican Republic. It will be offering on-demand chartered VIP services to destinations such as Saba, St. Barth’s, Nevis, Tortola, Anguilla, and Barbados.
“We welcome the initiative of St. Maarten Airways and would be happy to assist the company as much as possible,” said the airport’s managing director Regina Labega in a press statement.
“The airline aims to offer safe and efficient operations for the island of St. Maarten for on-demand travel,” says Rolando Brison, Managing Director of St. Maarten Airways. “We are committed to giving opportunities to locals first to be a part of this airline’s workforce, management and ownership. The airline is a “genuine local initiative” that will offer career opportunities.”
St. Maarten Airways discussed ways in which the airline could work closely with the airport and other airlines to service their route. “When other airlines coming to St. Maarten fail to deliver, it reflects poorly not just on the airline but on our airport and overall aviation product. This is why we will offer deeply discounted rates to other local airlines so that our small fleet can assist them wherever the need arises.”
Brison expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with airport officials. “I think it is a great honor to have been in the same room with people who have so much experience in aviation, and showing their interest in helping me as a young St. Maartener makes this dream come true. I have to really thank Ms. Labega, Mr. Donker, Mr. Hyman, and everyone else who attended the meeting for taking the next big step in getting SXM Airways started.”
Operations begin around Thanksgiving: St. Maarten Airways gets off the ground
