WILLEMSTAD - Minister of Traffic, Transportation, and Urban Planning (VVRP) Charles Cooper disagrees with the decision made by St. Maarten's Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic, and Telecommunications, Grisha Heyliger-Martin, and the St. Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA). The decision concerns granting permission for the airline Z Air to land in St. Maarten.
"This is a hollow victory because the permit comes with many conditions and is only valid until the end of 2024," said Cooper. The minister believes that Z Air should challenge the decision and not accept it. He also doesn't understand why the SMCAA included additional conditions that were not agreed upon with Heyliger-Martin.
Earlier, Heyliger-Martin had announced that Z Air is permitted to operate various routes between Curaçao, St. Maarten, and other destinations until the end of 2024. Z Air also received a separate license for air ambulance services.