andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12135
Loc: Philadelphia
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What next for this airline. If I had tix I would try to change for another airline.
From Today's Herald:
"Winair denied lease extension, Duncan suspends negotiations
AIRPORT--The Executive Council will not extend the long lease for land Windward Islands Airways Winair has been using for its operations.
Winair’s shareholder representative Internal Affairs Minister Roland Duncan received a letter from the Island Government on Monday informing him of the decision.
The Minister immediately suspended all negotiations with Richard Gibson, St. Maarten’s appointed mediator in the Winair dispute on the transfer of the shares.
Duncan told The Daily Herald on Monday that he had already informed Gibson of his decision. The Minister said he would seek legal advice on the letter before answering the Island Government of St. Maarten.
He said he believed St. Maarten’s decision was in bad faith, because it damaged the airline’s equity, endangering its existence and the jobs of the 100-plus workers. “St. Maarten is playing games, they don’t want to extend the long lease, but they are waiting on the transfer of the shares and want the Central Government to give the company a letter of comfort,” Duncan said.
Although the long lease for the land had expired in 2005, Winair paid the Island Government NAf. 21,480 in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the fee based on calculations of the renewed long lease for the period 2005 till 2065.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5995
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
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Andy,
I have to believe there's a lot of bluster on both sides of this negotiation. Winair is pretty important to SXM, and I can't see their going out of business completely, even though they've been on the ropes for as long as I can remember.
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The best moderation is the least moderation.
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KevinS
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 3415
Loc: Boston
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Was there a time when Winair WASN'T on the ropes?
There's more to the story. Winair is scrabbling for cash. The government doesn't appear to want to give Winair a longterm lease, in part because of what Winair plans to do with the lease - use it as collateral for a loan.
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COACH
Reged: 09/26/06
Posts: 4
Loc: Indiana, USA
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We are visiting St B in December(4-11) with tickets on Winair. With Air Carribe down, is St Bart's commuter the only other option? Wife gets sea sick so ferry is not an option.
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tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5995
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
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I expect Winair will still be providing service, but their reliability has been questionable for years and years. Air Caraibes was operating according to schedule when I was in St. Barth a couple of weeks ago. Good luck on your travels.
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The best moderation is the least moderation.
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KevinS
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 3415
Loc: Boston
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Quote:
We are visiting St B in December(4-11) with tickets on Winair. With Air Carribe down, is St Bart's commuter the only other option? Wife gets sea sick so ferry is not an option.
Air Caraibes' interruption in service was brief, no more than a week or two, and all of their passengers were taken care of, either on other flights arranged by Air Caraibes or by having their reservations transferred to Winair.
If it were me, I were connecting through SXM, and I already had tickets on Winair, then I would stick with Winair. Winair has its issues (and has for decades), but has always managed to keep operating safely. If I didn't already have tickets on Winair then my first preference would be to book St Barth Commuter (best price), followed by Air Caraibes (2nd most flights), followed by Winair (most flights).
Whoever I fly SXM-SBH with, I always keep the telephone number for Premium IV at hand.
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