THE HAGUE – The Dutch Inspectorate for the Environment and Transport (ILT) has expressed reluctance to take on a supervisory role for flights in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that operate under a public service obligation (PSO) — a type of subsidized air service designed to ensure regular and affordable transport. 

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wishes for the ILT to oversee compliance with PSO regulations once a ministerial decree is enacted. This would include monitoring aspects such as service continuity, schedule regularity, ticket pricing, and minimum capacity. However, the ILT has indicated that it prefers another organization to be assigned this responsibility. 

According to the ILT’s annual report, the inspectorate lacks the expertise and experience required for this type of market supervision, and taking on this role would represent a costly new task for the agency. 

For years, discussions have been ongoing about introducing PSO flights especially for routes to and from Sint Eustatius and Saba, where limited capacity and prohibitively high ticket prices have posed persistent problems. While the PSO model could provide a solution, the ministry has been hesitant due to cost concerns. 

The ILT’s unwillingness to take on the supervisory function further complicates efforts to implement the public service obligation flights, leaving the issue unresolved for now.