Acting TEATT Minister Cornelius de Weever (third from right) with top Spirit Airlines officials and members of the St. Maarten delegation during a recent meeting.
AIRPORT– Prior to Hurricane Irma last year, Spirit Airlines provided weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale with a 228-seat aircraft. As of May 5, Spirit Airlines will start air service using an Airbus 319 that can carry 145 passengers.
It will reintroduce a larger aircraft such as the A321 with 228 seats at a later time, according to a press release from acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (TEATT) Cornelius de Weever on Monday.
De Weever recently led a delegation that met with Spirit Airlines officials regarding airlift into the country post-Irma and an update on destination hospitality service and infrastructure developments. The objective of the meeting was to maintain a constant dialogue with airline partners and provide them with the information they need to make decisions on restoring their past level of air service as soon as possible.
“Spirit has been providing air service to the country for almost a decade at competitive prices. It is very important in this post-Irma era to maintain contact and provide current destination updates to our travel industry partners.
“The delegation included representatives from key entities within our economy, such as the Airport and the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association,” stated the minister.
“Government and the local tourism sector are well aware of the challenges currently being faced by the destination where it concerns the high airfares to and from the North American market, which is related to the demand and supply of seats to the destination, coupled with the limited number of hubs in the United States servicing the country.
“As a destination we are doing all possible to further strengthen our communication efforts to provide the travel and tourism trade market with up-to-date information related to our country’s recovery efforts underway.
“I am very pleased that Spirit Airlines has committed to return to the destination in May. It represents confidence in the destination as more hotel properties re-open, therefore increasing the number of accommodations for our visitors.”
The delegation met with Vice President Network Planning Mark Kopczak, Senior Director Distribution and Sales Richard Lowry, Regional Director Michael J. Purchon and Manager Airport Affairs Tim R. Archer.
The delegation comprised Princess Juliana International Airport Chief Operating Officer (COO) Michel Hyman, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) President Ricardo Perez, a member of the St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA), a member of the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA), and Regina M. LaBega, a member of the TEATT Minister’s Cabinet.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/75221-spirit-airlines-to-start-weekly-flights-beginning-next-month
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