The
inauguration of JetBlue's Boston / St. Maarten flight on Saturday
February 14, 2009 is an expansion of the relationship between the
airline and St. Maarten, officials said.
PJIAE President Drs. Eugene Holiday during his address to the gathering
at the inauguration ceremony hinted that it was just a year ago that
negotiations with the airline had been concluded. “The cost of oil was
at its highest point, but despite this unfavorable outlook and
notwithstanding the current poor economic conditions, Jet Blue still
went ahead and started up this Boston St. Maarten flight,” he said.
Drs. Holiday said that with the 3.3 % decline in passenger movements at
PJIA in 2008 and the uncertain global economic environment of 2009, it
was particularly pleasing to experience the expansion of JetBlue’s
service St. Maarten.
He expressed appreciation to the airline for its confidence in St.
Maarten; “The expansion of the service solidifies the airport’s position
as a regional leader since this constitutes further improvement and
expansion of air service to the passengers,” drs. Holiday said, adding
that the day chosen for the inaugural flight –Valentine’s Day- was a
perfect day to expand the relationship between the airline and the
island. The opening ceremony was attended by among others Commissioner
responsible for Aviation Mrs. Sarah Wescott Williams, Commissioner of
Tourism Mr. Roy Marlin, crew members of Jet Blue and PJIAE and airline
representatives of the airport.
drs. Holiday said that the objective of the airport is to “open direct
air service between PJIAE and major metropolitan areas such as Boston.”
According to him the new service did not come without difficulty. “It is
important to have reliable partners such as Jet Blue in these
unfavorable economic times,” he said. He noted that with Jet Blue’s new
service is a further improvement and expansion in air service for the
passengers.
JetBlue on January 17, 2008 became the second lowcost carrier to start
St. Maarten flights from New York. Spirit Airlines had started the year
before, with flights from Fort Lauderdale.
Commissioner Sarah Wescott Williams congratulated the Tourism
Commissioner Roy Marlin and Drs. Eugene Holiday and the management of
Jet Blue with the new milestone. The Commissioner said that the focus
should be on 2009 and beyond. She said that it is good that the year has
been opened with an important addition to flights and visitors to St.
Maarten.
Tourism Commissioner Roy Marlin recalled that when the relationship with
Jet Blue started in 2007, “it didn’t take a lot of convincing” to get
the airline to understand that St. Maarten was the destination to fly
to. The Commissioner stressed that St. Maarten is committed to the
“marriage” as well as the “long term relationship” with JetBlue.
Local JetBlue Supervisor Airport Operations Mark Boasman hoped that with
the airline’s new service more people will take advantage of the
opportunity to visit the island. He mentioned that although the
relationship between JetBlue and St. Maarten is only a little over a
year old, it has already proven to be a success.
The
inauguration of JetBlue's Boston / St. Maarten flight on Saturday
February 14, 2009 is an expansion of the relationship between the
airline and St. Maarten, officials said.
