REDjet for Suriname

(de Ware Tijd) Paramaribo – REDjet, the Barbadian price buster in the airline sector is to obtain a license to include Suriname in its schedule. Currently the contract is being scrutinized. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin explains that the national airline SLM had been requested to study possibilities for flights to Barbados. The company was not interested, so when the Barbadian government submitted an official request for landing rights for REDjet the opportunity was seized with both hands. ‘My Barbadian counterpart wrote to me about this issue, and we invited REDjet to talk, ’Lackin tells de Ware Tijd. The Minister points out that Suriname and Barbados have had a mutual aviation agreement for years, but so far no company had requested permission for regular scheduled flights. REDjet may look forward to its license next month. Last August, Robbie Burns, REDjet co-founder and director Business Development told de Ware Tijd that his airline was interested in flights to Suriname. No official request had been submitted then, however. A survey was conducted on the feasibility of entering the Surinamese market. REDjet abstained from investments, though, because there is a national carrier in Suriname. The company was focusing on 16 destinations, after several governments in the region were open to welcome a low-tariff airline. Except for the airport tax a one way ticket to any REDjet destination can be as low as US$ 10. The government does not really care that opening the skies and taking away restraints on the regional destinations will invite fierce competition for the SLM. Lackin says that the national interest is at stake. The SLM has the opportunity to participate in regional operations.