12 hours Ago By Jonathan E. Hendry
The flag carrier of Sint Maarten is deepening its partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Winair has long-operated routes through the Dutch Caribbean and will once again be codesharing with the KLM on routes across the region. Bringing back connections The codeshare agreement between Winair and KLM will allow customers traveling from Amsterdam and KLM's further intercontinental destinations to seamlessly connect through Winair's hub at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).
Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. This revitalized collaboration will make travel easier and more convenient for passengers connecting between KLM's flights and Winair's. Thanks to the agreement, KLM will add their flight code to destinations operated by Winair, including St.
Barth, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Tortola.
The carrier is increasing flights to Martinique and adding services to St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Vincent.
Passengers can now book flights to destinations served by both airlines using a single ticket. This allows them to check in with either carrier to receive boarding passes for both flights and have their luggage sent straight to their final destination. Hans van de Velde, CEO of Winair, expressed his excitement for the partnership to resume: “This collaboration with KLM, one of the world’s top airlines, reflects the trust they have in Winair’s safety, reliability, and service.
“We are proud to offer our customers this level of convenience and connectivity.” KLM currently operates an Airbus A330-200 on the nine-hour flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Sint Maarten. A regional renaissance Sint Maarten's International Airport is one of the busiest in the region and serves as a key travel hub in the northeastern Caribbean.
It boosts connectivity and tourism throughout the area and allows travelers from Europe and beyond to enjoy same-day connections to the Caribbean. The frequent flyer program was praised for its ease of use and flexibility, with Air Canada's Aeroplan and United Airlines' MileagePlus ranking next. It has not always been this way.
The airport suffered severe damage in Hurricane Irma in 2017, which destroyed its roof. As a result, there was severe flooding, and much of the airport's equipment was destroyed, leading to operations temporarily being relocated to tents and temporary structures. The renovation was just completed this month, with a grand reopening by Princess Beatrix, the former Queen of the Netherlands.
Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands was on hand to celebrate the airport's new arrivals hall and full recovery from Hurricane Irma. The renovations included new arrivals and departures halls, alongside automatic border control kiosks. When asked about the upgrades, van de Velde confirmed they significantly improved the experience for passengers: " I have to be impressed.
It's clearly the most modern airport in the region now, with lots of facilities, lots of nice shopping and eating, etc." The airport is also home to Maho Beach, famously known as ' Airplane Beach ' for its proximity to the end of the runway, which makes it a hotspot for plane enthusiasts and photographers. This guide will explore the airlines flying to the planespotters' island and how you can use miles to get there.
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