PHILIPSBURG - Sint Maarten's Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has formally addressed her counterparts, Minister Arends in Aruba, Minister Madlener in the Netherlands, and Bonaire's Deputy Cicilia, raising concerns about the aviation safety of aircraft registered outside the Kingdom. 

The discussion was prompted by the application of Curaçao-based airline Z Air to fly to Sint Maarten using aircraft registered in the United States and overseen by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Before making a decision, the aviation authority in Philipsburg requested Z Air to provide written confirmation that Curaçao accepts the airworthiness standards of the U.S. Without this confirmation, Z Air cannot be granted permission to fly to Sint Maarten, Heyliger-Marten stated. 

However, Z Air's fleet is currently allowed to operate in Aruba, Bonaire, and Sint Eustatius. The minister is seeking clarification on how these territories ensure aviation safety without having access to the results of periodic inspections conducted by the FAA. 

In response to the ongoing situation, Z Air has taken legal action to compel authorization to fly to Sint Maarten. A court ruling is expected on August 23.