Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
SURINAM AIRWAYS, the national air carrier of the Republic of Suriname, made its inaugural flight to Jamaica on Monday, the third airline to join the Sangster International Airport's hub since January.
The 60 passengers, 22 of whom were Surinamese officials and press representatives, arrived here from Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, Paramaribo, in Suriname at 10:10 a.m. The passengers were treated to a water salute courtesy of MBJ Airports Limited, before boarding Air Jamaica flight 023 to Miami International Airport.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Alice Amafo, Suriname's Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, said the move was another important step in developing multi-destination tourism between Jamaica and her country.
"I am very pleased to be a part of this new ground-breaking experience, the establishment of direct air services between Suriname and Jamaica, for through this means of transport we will be able to expand trade, tourism and cultural exchanges," she said.
FIRST OF MANY
John Sandie, vice-president of operations at the airline, said the flight was the first of many, as the airline hopes to move to daily flights out of Suriname. "We are very pleased to be here with this first flight," he said. "We think it will be the first of many to come. We will start with two flights a week and (soon) we will have daily flights to Jamaica (because) we know that there is a potential between Suriname and Jamaica to do a lot of exchange on the part of trade, economics, tourism and culture."
The bi-lateral agreement between Suriname and Jamaica will see Surinam Airways fly passengers from Paramaribo to Montego Bay where they will board flights to Miami and other destinations.
