Walker made this disclosure during the signing agreement between the government of Antigua and Barbuda and Winair last Friday in Antigua. Attending the signing ceremony on behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda's Government was Minister within the Netherlands, -Duncan, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors at Winair, Vice President of Marketing, Claudio Buncamper and Hodge while Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon Harold Lovell and Walker were among those representing the Antigua and Barbuda Government.
Hon Walker said that there are a lot of positives that the public can expect with the initiation of the air service agreement between the government and Windward Islands Airways (Winair).
Despite the airline commencing its Barbuda's leg since September 1st, the signing marked the beginning of an official partnership between the government and the airline. Winair, Walker pointed out that Winair came to the rescues of Barbudians and Antiguans after the previous airline announced that it was closing its doors.
According to Walker Winair when they were requested to help readily agreed to come on board and since then have been delivering quality service at an affordable price. "I must admit that I am extremely excited and pleased to see how effective and efficient that Winair has been since commencing operations. The airline has surpassed all expectations thus far," Walker said.
Walker continued, "Winair has not only promised good service but has delivered great service. When Carib Aviation announced its plans to stop its service to Barbuda; for that, the company had his thanks. This, he believes, can be attributed in part to the hard work of the Minister of Tourism and his ministry's technical staff".
Making no attempts to hide his appreciations and excitement over what he said has been a long and challenging road in garnering effective and efficient service to the island, Walker pointed out, "...my greatest joy and happiness was realized a few days prior to 1 Sept., Winair landed in Barbuda; the day for the airline's first scheduled flight to the sister isle was 1 Sept.
"When I saw that, I must say, it gave me more confidence that the relationship that we are about to build, and that we have built so far, will grow," Walker said.
The Minister went on to note that he has all intentions of developing a stronger and closer relationship with the airline with the view of establishing added routes other than Antigua. "We want to strengthen our relationship so that we can create opportunities in terms of more routes from Barbuda," he said.
The Barbuda Parliamentary representative expressed the firm view that with a closer relationship it will aid in promoting growth in the sister isle and open its doors to the international community.
He added, "As time goes on, I trust that Winair will become a strategic partner of Barbuda, capable of providing airlifting services for ill individuals unable to obtain care in the local facilities".
