WILLEMSTAD, PHILIPSBURG - The airline Winair has received approval from the Curaçao Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) to operate additional flights between Curaçao and Sint Maarten from September 2024 to April 2025. However, the approval is limited, while Z Air is allowed to operate flights without restrictions during the same period.
The CCAA has granted Winair permission for ten extra flights between November 2024 and April 2025. According to Winair’s director, Hans van de Velde, Winair is only allowed to fly from November 1, 2024, to April 1, 2025. In September, Winair can offer more flights, but not as many as they initially requested. Van de Velde stated that the CCAA has approved nine flights per week from September 19 until the end of October.
At the same time, Z Air is permitted to fly without any restrictions during the same period because the Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA) has not imposed any limits on them. Van de Velde expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, "According to the agreement between Curaçao and Sint Maarten, there should be no restrictions, but the CCAA and SMCAA are not following these rules."
Due to this unequal treatment, Winair has filed a lawsuit against the CCAA. Van de Velde hopes the issue will be resolved before the summer of 2025, and that the restrictions on Winair will be lifted. If this happens, the lawsuit will be withdrawn.
The Winair director expects a resolution before April and believes that the situation will ultimately be resolved in Winair’s favor.