Winair celebrates 65 years of inter-Caribbean travel.
SIMPSON BAY--Winair marked its 65th anniversary on Sunday with a stakeholder celebration in St. Maarten, bringing together government officials, aviation and tourism representatives, business leaders, employees, shareholders and partners to reflect on the airline’s six-and-a-half decades of regional service. The anniversary comes as Winair continues to play a key role in connecting St. Maarten with neighbouring Caribbean islands, operating more than 25,000 flights and carrying more than 330,000 passengers annually.
The airline’s history dates back to August 24, 1961, when aviators Georges Émilien Gréaux and Hippolyte “Faustin” Lédée joined forces with St. Maarten businessman Norman “Chester” Wathey to establish an airline focused on providing reliable transportation between the islands. Winair began scheduled service to Saba in 1963, becoming the first airline to provide regular flights to the island. Two years later, the airline added the Twin Otter to its fleet, an aircraft that would go on to become closely associated with Winair and regional aviation.
The anniversary celebration included special recognition for the Wathey, Lédée and Gréaux families for the role played by the airline’s founders in establishing what would become one of the Caribbean’s longest-operating regional airlines.
Winair CEO Hans van de Velde, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Martin, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams were among those who addressed the gathering. The celebration also highlighted the contribution of Winair’s employees, passengers, governments, airports, shareholders and other partners to the airline’s continued operation.
Over its 65-year history, Winair has faced significant challenges, including changing aviation and tourism markets, major hurricanes and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite those challenges, the airline has continued operating its regional network and maintaining connections between islands that rely heavily on air transportation for tourism, business, family travel and access to essential services.
The airline said its mission remains focused on providing safe and reliable connections throughout the Caribbean, while continuing to strengthen regional connectivity and invest in its employees and partnerships.
The anniversary celebration therefore served not only as a look back at the airline’s origins, but also as a reflection on the role regional air connectivity continues to play in linking Caribbean communities and supporting economic activity across the region.
