Says Benelux representatiosn being worked on ~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Based on discussions that have taken place, Honorable Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Claret Connor, hereby announces that Arkefly will start flying to St. Maarten as of November 2015 using the Dreamliner aircraft.
Minister Connor, his Cabinet and the management of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau recently met with the Arkefly representatives, Rob Oostendorp, Product Group Manager Caribbean, The Americas & Southern Africa, and Sebastiaan de Vries, Product & Purchasing Manager Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao, where the possibility of having Arkefly/TUI provide service to St. Maarten once again.
Subsequently, it was decided that the year round service would resume with operations from Amsterdam to St. Maarten, twice weekly; on Wednesdays and Sundays. The scheduled route for this service is Amsterdam, St. Maarten, Curacao, Amsterdam.
"We are pleased that Arkefly is returning to St. Maarten/St. Martin and already have 14 hotels that will be included in their product line," disclosed Minister Connor.
The Minister added, ... "the added airlift will assist St. Maarten in reaching the leisure travellers which targets a different clientele than those that may travel on KLM."
The first flight is scheduled to land at the Princess Juliana International Airport on Sunday, November 1, 2015 with a Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner, which has a total capacity of 300 seats.
The various classes available on the Dreamliner are: economy, comfort and premium comfort.
In June 2014, Arke became the first Dutch airline to add the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet. The airline received its second Dreamliner in December 2014, and the third is scheduled for delivery in March 2015.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is lighter, quieter, more fuel-efficient, and above all, more comfortable than the current generation of passenger aircraft.
Arkefly is TUI/Nederlands own airline and part of the extensive TUI international fleet. Arkefly's Dutch fleet includes the Boeing 767-300, the 737-800 and the 787 Dreamliner. Arkefly flies to more than 55 holiday destinations on five continents.
As for representation in the Benelux market, Minister Connor and the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau is going through the process of identifying and subsequently selecting a firm that would once again give St. Maarten an effective presence in this key market. It remains a priority for the Minister and has the urgent attention of the bureau as well.
