WINAIR VP says flight reduction only temporary
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-Winward Island Airways (WINAIR) Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Claudio Buncamper, has confirmed to SKNVibes that the number of flights into St. Kitts-Nevis will be reduced, but on a temporary basis only.
“Such reductions are normal for this time of the year. It is definitely not true that WINAIR will be permanently reducing its flights from St. Maarten to St. Kitts-Nevis,” the VP said in an exclusive interview with this media house.
“However, if you look at our typical schedule from September to November you would notice that we typically reduce the number of flights we run because they are not necessary.”
Buncamper confirmed that as of September 8, the number of aircraft flying into St. Kitts-Nevis was reduced to two instead of the usual four, and on the Tuesday and Wednesday schedules there would be only one route offered.
“Of course fuel costs and other external factors continue to impact our business, but at this time our December schedule for St. Kitts-Nevis remains the same as it was last year with four aircraft flying into the country.” ~~Adz:Right~~
He further stated that the reduction in flights was necessary to allow for pilots’ vacations and routine maintenance on their fleet of aircraft.
SKNVibes spoke with Don Wharton, Manager of WINAIR St. Kitts, who said that rumors circulating about WINAIR’s closure of routes to the Federation were nothing more than unsubstantiated speculation.
“The head office has not mentioned anything to me about permanent closures at this time,” Wharton informed.
Buncamper stated that customers of WINAIR may be nervous following the announcement that Carib Aviation out of Antigua and Barbuda would be closing several routes, including those to Nevis, but wanted to assure the public that, at this time, WINAIR has no intention or reason to follow suit.
Officials within the St. Kitts Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Authority were not immediately available for comment.
