Surinam Airways hoping to fly Guyana-NY route soon

Surinam Airways station manager Rudi Westerborg has announced that after six months on the Guyana market, the airline is gaining a competitive edge.
Speaking during an interview with Guyana Times International, Westerborg said that the airline has an advantage over competitors as the staff is specially trained in dealing with senior citizens, who are regarded as one of the most difficult subsections of the travelling public.

“If your staff is not well trained, the trip can be a horrible experience, but our company policy is that senior citizens also have a right to travel to any destination, and we are focused on providing the treatment they need to make their travel comfortable,” Westerborg said.
Another strong point is the cuisine offered on board each flight, which is made by the airline’s catering department.
Westerborg disclosed that Surinam Airways’ catering department holds the 2011 golden award in the Western Hemisphere and copped the silver award in 2009 and 2010.
“There’s one thing I know for sure: our food is not good – our food is excellent,” the station manager boasted.
Surinam Airways has created a niche for itself, influencing the fares of the competition ever since its introduction to the local scene.
It offers a non-stop service with direct flights to Miami and excellent connecting flights to other destinations, including Amsterdam, Brazil, the Middle East, and even China.
Westerborg is confident that the airline is here to stay after a six-year hiatus. The intention of the airline is to operate in Guyana for the long haul, as executives explore the possibility of landing flights in other Caribbean territories.
Westerborg said the airline has plans to extend services not only to Miami, but also to other parts of North America. The airline during the 1980s provided flights to New York from Georgetown.
Manager of the airline’s North America route, Henk Fitz-Jim disclosed that Surinam Airways will look at reestablishing flights to New York, while the Toronto route should be on stream by the end of the year. Flights would increase during the peak seasons.
The airline, which is celebrating 50 years of existence, having started in 1962 as a small domestic carrier, now plays an importance role in the region’s aviation sector.
Westerborg disclosed that the airline has managed to maintain many special fares not only for passengers from Suriname but from all other destinations around the globe.
Surinam Airways during April and June offered very attractive rates to Miami from as low as US$ 365 per return ticket.
Speaking on the challenges facing the airline industry, Westerborg said many airlines run into grave difficulty within months of starting up.
However, the government-owned Surinam Airways has managed to withstand the test of time. “So we have the government behind us; they are our backbone. They have never subsidised the company, but in case of any problems, we have the government standing right behind us. We have never faced problems like that for the past 50 years in business, and we are going for 100 now,” he remarked.
The airline believes that much of its success will depend on continued bilateral talks between the governments of Suriname and Guyana. Surinam Airways has also made a decision to recruit aircraft personnel from outside Suriname in keeping with the mandate of the Caricom single market and economy.

Re-entry
The re-entry of Surinam Airways into the local market became a reality on April 3, when the airline’s Boeing 737 touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport en route to Miami, Florida.
Aboard the flight was Surinamese President Desire Bouterse, who was greeted by Guyanese head-of-state Donald Ramotar. The two leaders participated in a reception to mark the return of the airline to Guyana after a six-year break.
Surinam Airways Vice President Clyde Cairo said as part of its 50th anniversary, the airline will be offering better packages to all Guyanese travellers. The airline currently operates from Suriname’s capital Paramaribo to Amsterdam, with five fights each week.
The company is also hoping to introduce special fares for children and senior citizens during the year.