AIRPORT–There was a sense of true team spirit as the water cannon salute signified the official return of Spirit Airlines to Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) this past Saturday. The flight departed from Fort Lauderdale at 10:46am and arrived on-island at 1:53pm.
Following the disembarkation of the first flight, the plaque-handing-over ceremony was officiated by acting Minister of Tourism Cornelius de Weever and newly-appointed St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Director May-Ling Chun.
According to PJIA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ravi Daryanani, the managing board and Spirit Airlines representatives will meet later this week to continue celebrating Saturday’s flight back as an important milestone.
Present to accept the plaque on behalf of the Spirit Airlines delegation were Airport Affairs Manager Tim Archer and Communications Director Stephen Schuler. In efforts to further celebrate the event, sounds of steel pan music welcomed the arriving passengers, while those at the Departure Pavilion received Spirit Airlines promotional items.
Spirit Airlines is resuming its once-weekly service to the destination for the first time since early September 2017. The resumed flight operation comes eight months after Hurricane Irma tore through the island.
Spirit Airlines said on Saturday that it is dedicated to servicing and growing in the Caribbean and has worked diligently in aiding in recovery efforts. The airline assisted in the removal of hundreds of visitors and residents from the island in dedicated humanitarian relief flights in the days and weeks following the hurricane.
The same relief flights also served to transport thousands of pounds of much-needed general supplies. Spirit Airlines management said in a statement that they are elated that the conditions have now improved and Spirit is now able to resume regular commercial service to St. Maarten.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76348-spirit-airlines-resumes-flights-to-destination
View comments
Hide comments