PHILIPSBURG:--- Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley says Arajet's two weekly flights between St. Maarten and Santo Domingo "show that we are rebounding well with hopes of an excellent season ahead."
Minister Ottley joined the Princess Juliana International Airport NV (PJIA) team in officially welcoming Arajet Airlines' inaugural flight to St. Maarten on Tuesday, September 27.
Arajet will have two (2) weekly non-stop flights between St. Maarten (SXM) and Santo Domingo (SDQ) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Airline will use a Boeing 737 MAX-8 with a seating capacity of 185. This venture is part of Arajet’s growing network out of the Dominican Republic.
Ottley said, "The Dominican Republic and St. Maarten share a long history of trade relationships. The family ties that bind us have favored both countries for many years. The Dominican Republic has many travel enthusiasts whose visit will further enhance our economic model as we continue to grow."
"They will have the opportunity to bask in the sun on our beautiful beaches, experience exciting nightlife, and taste some delicious dishes at some of our world-famous restaurants."
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Arajet Victor Pachego Mendez said, "We are excited to start operations at Princess Juliana International Airport." He said St. Maarten is one of the top destinations in the Caribbean.
"The launch of direct, low-fare flights from the Dominican Republic will attract more tourists, increase connectivity, and offer our guests the opportunity to experience our warm and distinctive Dominican customer service," said Pachego Mendez.
He described the Airline as "an environmentally friendly fleet" with a new and modern 737 MAX-8.
CFO of PJIA Ben van der Klift said, "Today, I'm very pleased and honored to welcome Arajet to our airport and the island of St. Maarten. Arajet is an important addition to our hub function to increase St. Maarten's connectivity in the Caribbean. In addition, the entire island will benefit from this route development. More tourists will come to our island, and the people of St. Maarten have even more choices when they want to fly to Santo Domingo."
"Arajet's decision to include St. Maarten as a preferred destination as it expands its airlifts throughout the Caribbean indicates its trust in our Country's service cultural standard. We welcome Arajet and its staff and thank the Airline's management team for placing its confidence in our island. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with the hopes to see increased airlifts over time," concluded Ottley.
