It seems there are no more obstacles for national carrier Suriname Airways SLM to resume its Paramaribo-Cayenne service. Clyde Cairo, SLM’s deputy director announced last Sunday that the French Government has granted the airline rights to begin flights to French Guiana at the end of October.
SLM’s return to French Guiana is at the request of authorities in Suriname’s eastern neighbor. The airline’s license was revoked a few years ago, in favor of French airline Air Caraïbes, the Guadeloupe based commuter airline that serves French Caribbean territories. With Air Caraïbes now facing financial woes however, French Guiana could be left without an air-bridge.
Authorities invited SLM back, as not having proper air service could be a deterrent for international companies considering investments in the recent oil finds off their country’s coast. The airline agreed to return, under the condition that the French Government in Paris sign an aviation agreement with Suriname.
SLM will loop its French Guiana flights through Belem, a popular tourism destination in Brazil, which it already flies to. Cairo said that the Belem route is profitable, and SLM intends to spread its wings further on to Fortaleza and eventually Sao Paulo.
He announced that the airline is continuing its talks with China Southern Airlines and Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong which would enable seamless travel from China to Paramaribo. SLM also intends to expands of its Mid-Atlantic route to Europe next year.
Suriname Airways already flies to western neighbor Guyana, Curacao, Aruba, Trinidad, Miami in the US and the Netherlands; a resumption of the French Guyana service would make the company the major carrier of the Guyana’s. The Government-owned company has a fleet of three aircraft: an Airbus A340-300 and two Boeing 737-300.
SLM’s return to French Guiana is at the request of authorities in Suriname’s eastern neighbor. The airline’s license was revoked a few years ago, in favor of French airline Air Caraïbes, the Guadeloupe based commuter airline that serves French Caribbean territories. With Air Caraïbes now facing financial woes however, French Guiana could be left without an air-bridge.
Authorities invited SLM back, as not having proper air service could be a deterrent for international companies considering investments in the recent oil finds off their country’s coast. The airline agreed to return, under the condition that the French Government in Paris sign an aviation agreement with Suriname.
SLM will loop its French Guiana flights through Belem, a popular tourism destination in Brazil, which it already flies to. Cairo said that the Belem route is profitable, and SLM intends to spread its wings further on to Fortaleza and eventually Sao Paulo.
He announced that the airline is continuing its talks with China Southern Airlines and Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong which would enable seamless travel from China to Paramaribo. SLM also intends to expands of its Mid-Atlantic route to Europe next year.
Suriname Airways already flies to western neighbor Guyana, Curacao, Aruba, Trinidad, Miami in the US and the Netherlands; a resumption of the French Guyana service would make the company the major carrier of the Guyana’s. The Government-owned company has a fleet of three aircraft: an Airbus A340-300 and two Boeing 737-300.
Source : http://www.devsur.com