Winair Shuts Down Flights to Anguilla

Regional carrier Windward Islands Airline (Winair) has announced that it will be terminating the route from St Maarten to Anguilla with effect from December 1, 2009. According to Vice President of Marketing, Claudio Buncamper, this is as a result of the airline suffering significant losses for the past several months, which he said has resulted in the airline being unable to continue suffering such losses.

Buncamper pointed out that all passengers are being contacted to inform them of the suspension of flights to Anguilla. He said that all passengers that booked directly with Winair will have the option to travel on the services of Anguilla Air Service (Winair partner airline) using the same ticket.

The VP of Marketing further explained that passengers booked using one of their interline partners will have to refund their tickets via their travel agency or the partner airline the ticket was purchased from and book directly with Anguilla Air Services

Giving an explanation for the airline’s decision to close the Anguilla route, Buncamper said that the cancellation is a result of the poor performance and loss making on the route.

“We have tried desperately over the past several months to keep the Anguilla route operational owing to the fact that we have recognized that over the years the resident and citizens of Anguilla have supported Winair,” Buncamper said.

He however noted that, with the airline already faced with a number of challenges, among them a decreased traveling market, rising operational and other costs it has placed the airline in a very challenging position to make such a critical decision.

“We are always committed to delivering the best quality service possible and therefore we are unable to continue delivering the level of service that we recognize is needed for Anguilla owing to the significant challenges and difficulties that the airline is faced with,” Buncamper said.