Simpson Bay, May 09, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to affect St. Maarten and her residents, in these times of uncertainty we are tasked with planning our path forward, ensuring our health and well-being. WINAIR’s continued survival as a critically important business contributing to the economic engine of St. Maarten and the region must be maintained. Throughout this pandemic WINAIR is aware of our mission to facilitate assistance by performing repatriation flights, provide relief flights to bring needed supplies and essential personnel to assist St. Maarten with combating this pandemic. By reinventing WINAIR we ensure the safety of our critically important employees, who are on the front lines in these endeavors.
During these difficult and challenging times, WINAIR faced the reality of conforming to the evolving NEW WORLD NORM of post COVID-19. WINAIR continues to plan and coordinate a safe / responsible startup of operations for the continuation of WINAIR’s vital role in the post COVID-19 environment. By working together with our stakeholders, our company, our country and the region we can slowly return to some degree of normalcy. Our focus on the restoration of social, cultural and economic relations remains our priority in St. Maarten and our region.
The effect of COVID-19 has resulted in a near total loss of all revenue, it is most critical for WINAIR to assess ourselves financially in order to remain in existence post COVID-19. To meet these challenges WINAIR has implemented many initiatives which are essential if we are to survive and assist with the ongoing success of St. Maarten. Conforming to this new reality WINAIR has implemented a 25% pay reduction (effective April 2020), this reduction of salary’s is across the board and includes our Board of Directors, management and staff. Additionally, management and staff were placed on mandatory two-week vacation immediately after cessation of our operations, bonus’s and allowances to management and staff have been discontinued. Our maintenance team is performing required future maintenance on WINAR’s aircraft and equipment (avoiding more costly repairs at a later date).
In addition, WINAIR has renegotiated / reduced our handling costs in all 14 destinations we serve by 20-30%, we have redistributed our fuel costs, WINAIR has renegotiated aircraft leases and received discounts on key components on these leases. WINAIR is currently in negotiations with PJIAE to spread out payments, we are continuing to work with PJIAE to accomplish this.
WINAIR is receiving payroll support from the government of St. Maarten, we have reached out to all destinations’ Tourist departments and Government authorities to coordinate cost reductions and discounts to WINAIR and our customers. WINAIR is currently working with all regional airports to achieve cost reductions for flights operated by WINAIR. Purchasing of goods and services has been limited to only those of absolute necessity during this period, rental deferment of our sales facility on Walter Nisbett Road has been received. WINAIR will continue to seek ways to reduce operating costs for our limited restart when it is safe and prudent to do so.
WINAIR is grateful to our service providers, our customers, St. Maarten Government, The Government of the Netherlands for their continued support, as well as our Board of Directors, the management and staff who carry this weight and continue to perform on the front lines. Moving forward WINAIR will proceed with enhanced safety protocols which remain i.e., enhanced air craft sanitation (performed after every flight), providing personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of our employees, reengineering our facilities to conform with ongoing safety protocol’s. In short, many tasks have been accomplished, our thanks and appreciation to all our partner’s and stakeholders who continue to work with WINAIR.
