AIRPORT--Pan-Am World Airways (PAWA) Dominicana celebrated its inaugural flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to St. Maarten on Sunday with an intimate festive ceremony at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM.
The realisation of the four-times-weekly route was touted by PAWA Board Chairman Luis Ramirez as just one step in the airline’s expansion and by Dominican Roots Foundation President Milagros De Windt as a very welcome development to the local Dominicano community.
In addition to service to St. Maarten, PAWA has launched flights from Santo Domingo to Aruba and Curaçao. There will be a combined 24 flights to these destinations weekly.
Ramirez told The Daily Herald this would be followed soon by connections to another seven Caribbean destinations and three in the United States.
Ramirez said in his speech that the company was “extremely happy” with the accomplishment, which had not been easy to realise. He described the product-demand in light of many regional destinations as being “disconnected,” with same-day travel often being a difficult feat.
De Windt said the new option was an “exciting” one for the Dominicano community in St. Maarten, with the large immigrant group having its own media outlets in print and radio, but never its own airline. She said PAWA had added another option – the sole option previously being Insel Air – which should result in competitive prices.
SXM Airport Marketing and Customer Service Manager Suzy Kartokromo welcomed the PAWA representatives, who included company management, air hostesses, pilots and other staff, on behalf of Managing Director Regina LaBega.
Kartokromo also presented Ramirez with an inauguration plaque, alongside airport representatives, PAWA International and European Market Director Carola Torquemada and PAWA Regional Director for St. Maarten Johanna De Windt.
Arianna Halley of ground-handling service company Halley Aviation management also welcomed the new business partners, looking forward to the collaboration.
Chet Euton, General Manager of Checkmate Security, the company that will provide security services, was the event’s master of ceremonies.
The ceremony kicked off with an invocation by Isadora Craane.
