Code share agreement SLM and InselAir only exists on paper

Suriname’s national carrier, Surinam Airways (SLM) has not put any passengers on flights of InselAir which is the national airline of Curaçao even though both airliners have a code share agreement. SLM Director Robbi Lachmising told Times of Suriname that this has been the case ever since InselAir got caught in financial and operational problems. Lachmising explained that he does not want to risk letting Surinamese passengers down now that InselAir is experiencing problems. “The so-called code share agreement currently only exists on paper. The SLM is very cautious and keeps up-to-date on the developments at InselAir,” said Lachmising.

In 2012 SLM and InselAir inked a code share agreement. As part of the agreement both airliners could put passengers on each other’s flights in case of flight delays. Both companies also aimed at offering more destinations and more flights to their clients. Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) and TUIfly ended the partnership agreement with InselAir in November in response to InselAir’s cancelled flights and financial problems. InselAir reportedly also does not have to count on any support from the government of Curaçao. “There is still no decision and also no intention on a financial injection into the ailing local airline InselAir,” said the Minister of Economic Development Eugene Rhuggenaath last week. The minister made this statement during the public meeting of the Parliament on InselAir. The main agenda point of the public meeting was the financial situation of the local airline and the intention to use public funds to assist the private company. The MPs also discussed the committee that was installed to investigate a possible solution for the airline. InselAir management has blamed the company’s financial problems on the Venezuelan crisis. CEO of Insel Air, Albert Kluyver, says that if a country does not adhere to the aviation agreement, it is up to the countries to resolve the disputes. InselAir is in financial dire straits because there are still several millions of dollars tied up in Venezuela. “The reality is that Insel Air currently suffers from an extremely challenging cash flow situation, as a result of a claim of over USD100 million dollars on neighbouring country Venezuela,” CEO Albert Kluyver said in October. “For more than six years, Venezuela has been a crucial market for the existence of Insel Air. To keep our company solid in the future, we have reduced the (Venezuelan) market share of 34% to less than 4% and at the same time we seek completion with alternative vital routes in the region. This is to keep the Insel Air organization and infrastructure at the same level and to guarantee the employment of our 750 staff.”