~ Aims to groom students ~
PHILIPSBURG--Soon-to-be-established local airline St. Maarten Airways will focus primarily on what it sees as the underserved market of offering charter services from St. Maarten to other destinations.
Managing Director and shareholder Rolando Brison told The Daily Herald on Wednesday that St. Maarten Airways would be “a fully locally-driven” airline and its operations would be very different from existing commercial airlines such as LIAT and Insel Air. St. Maarten Airways will focus on charter services for private groups and individuals who want to go to a destination on demand.
“We plan to create the availability to make this happen,” Brison said.
Contrary to reports, Brison said the airline was still in its early stages and did not yet have an investor.
St. Maarten Airways plans to work with existing airlines, particularly locally operating ones, in whatever way possible. If, for example, an airline is overbooked and needs help to transport passengers, St. Maarten Airwards can do this.
Brison said he had done extensive research on the market and the statistics showed that the charter markets were “very underserved.” Many people have been forced to cancel their trips, change their plans or go to alternate destinations because of this deficiency. A reliable charter service like St. Maarten Airways can benefit St. Maarten in many ways. Persons will be able to charter a flight to go to St. Barths, Tortola, Anguilla or some other destination.
Brison said the airline was a dream on which he had been working for several years. The first steps to finalise the articles of incorporation and start the process to obtain a business licence to operate were taken in 2011. “I’ve been trying ever since to develop the business plan and analyse the market to see where the market was going in terms of charter aviation,” Brison said.
The new airline has already obtained its business licence. The intention is to start off small with about two short-take-off-and-landing (STOL) aircraft, with the possibility of expanding in the future.
“We have a lot of short fields in this region and it is important to have aircraft equipped for this,” he said, adding that aircraft would not be accepted until all the St. Maarten Civil Aviation Department requirements were met.
St. Maarten Airways hopes to start its operations in the coming tourist season. Brison said the company was weighing its options for investors. He declined to disclose the names of the other persons behind the airline.
He said St. Maarten Airways was still in the early stages of development and he did not want to disclose information prematurely. However, he said St. Maarten Airways aimed to provide information publicly and be transparent after certain things had been finalised. It also plans to meet with Parliament where it will provide information about the airline and give the representatives of the people a chance to ask questions. A request for a meeting already has been submitted to Parliament.
One of the airline’s goals is to work with closely with local institutions such as National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) and St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) to groom interested students in different areas of the airline industry. Areas such as aviation mechanic and operations can be explored. The airline has received advice from the Department of Education on this possibility.
Another long-term goal is eventually to open a flight school. Brison said this was very close to his heart, as his brother was currently in flight school. Another goal is eventually to give the public a chance to invest in shares in the company.
“This is more of a lead by example initiative. It is impossible for every St. Maartener to own a business, but it should be possible for people, if they can save extra, and put that into business. This is what drives the stock market. We want to eventually look into this. It’s a genuine local effort.”
Brison said St Maarten Airways still had to comply with a list of regulations from the St. Maarten Civil Aviation Regulations for a business licence holder. He said any local person should have the right to explore any business opportunity in the country. Obtaining a business licence does not mean that the business will open its doors immediately.
“Before people start to talk that St. Maarten Airways will compete with other airlines [they should know the facts – Ed.]. ... St. Maarten Airways is here. It is my dream and the dream of a few local people who saw it and saw that it might be a good thing for the island,” Brison stressed.
