PHILIPSBURG - The ongoing turmoil in the Caribbean aviation sector is a direct result of the lack of proper agreements, leading to inconsistencies in airline permissions across the islands. Z Air's denied request to fly to Sint Maarten and the ban on Sarpa flights from Bonaire to Aruba and Curaçao, despite their acceptance on other islands, exemplify this issue. This weekend, the situation escalated with alarming reports concerning patient transportation from Sint Eustatius and Saba via Sint Maarten to hospitals in Aruba and Curaçao.
"Due to the absence of a well-coordinated vision on inter-island connectivity and regional access, there are no uniform regulations," says Adrian Young from To70, a globally respected consultancy with 150 specialists in aviation law and regulation, including clients in the Caribbean.
"Each country can independently set conditions, often influenced by fears of competition. Ideally, the Caribbean part of the Kingdom should be considered a single airspace with uniform conditions for everyone. This should have been established in 2010. Now, it’s a challenge to align all parties," Young explains.
As a result, airlines feel compelled to seek legal recourse, as Z Air and Winair have done, following Sarpa's earlier example. This situation also impacts citizens, particularly during critical moments in their lives. According to Young, the issues surrounding Medicair’s air ambulance flights in the Windward Islands this weekend also stem from the lack of clear agreements.
"The absence of a proper arrangement leaves room for politically motivated decisions, leading to scenarios where Z Air and Sarpa are permitted on one island but not on another. The focus should be on passenger interests," Young concludes.