Insel Air to begin Miami, Aruba and Curacao flights from June

Apr 12, 2014 News

-introductory flights low as $US 270

By Latoya Giles

A new airline has entered the local market promising flights from Guyana to Miami via Aruba and Curacao from June of this year. Insel Air, which is registered in Curacao, is expected to start flights from June 18, 2014 with an introductory price of $US 270 for a round trip.
Chief Commercial Officer, of Insel Air, Jurgen Lippinkhof, told the media yesterday that the airline would

Chief Commercial Officer, of Insel Air, Jurgen Lippinkhof

be collaborating with Roraima Airways in this new initiative. He explained that Insel Air has several aircraft that operate flights throughout the Caribbean at present.
Lippinkhof said that the main reason Guyana was chosen is because it’s the only English speaking country within the South American continent. He explained that passengers feel more comfortable coming to a country where they are easily understood. Further, Lippinkhof noted that since Guyana has received several good ratings from various tourism agencies, Insel Air sought to capitalize on this and tap into the market.
He explained that the process of Insel Air setting up flights out of Guyana started almost a year ago. Lippinkhof said that the airline had to submit all maintenance, insurance policies and other relevant documents along with a due diligence plan to the Civil Aviation Department here in Guyana.
He added that the airline would be offering introductory prices as low as $US 270 to $US 345 for round trips. It was noted that the prices are inclusive of all taxes. After six months of flights Lippinkhof said that the prices will change.
Lippinkhof maintained that the airline is no “fly by night” operation. He explained that Insel Air is a scheduled carrier bounded by international legal obligations, so they can’t just “disappear”.
Meanwhile, Captain Gerry Gouveia said that Roraima Airways was happy to collaborate with Insel Air. He said that this would afford Roraima the opportunity to further extend its reach in diversifying the Guyana Tourism packages with a combination of Guyana, Aruba and Curacao.
He noted that Roraima will facilitate the ground handling aspect of the operation while the General Sales Agent will be Diedre Davis. Roraima had previously served as ground handling agent for North American Airlines and Delta, among others.
Gouveia noted that Insel Air will connect the Caribbean and South America by serving many routes. He said that one of the distinguishing advantages of flying with the new airline is the ability to access pre clearance of US customs and Immigration in Aruba, therefore entering the US as a domestic flight.
Insel Air (formally Insel Air International B.V.) is a Dutch Caribbean airline that serves as the flag carrier of Curaçao, with its head office in Maduro Plaza, Willemstad.

Captain Gerry Gouveia along with Chief Commercial Officer, of Insel Air, Jurgen Lippinkhof

As of 2014, Insel Air serves 20 destinations throughout the Caribbean, South America and North America
The airline’s main hubs are Hato International Airport (Insel Air Curaçao) and Queen Beatrix International Airport (Insel Air Aruba) with a secondary hub at Princess Juliana International Airport.
Insel Air started operations in August 2006 with one Embraer 110-P1 Bandeirante flying out of Curaçao to the neighboring island of Aruba. Soon afterwards, Insel Air began flights to the neighbouring island of Bonaire and also to Las Piedras in Venezuela.
Starting January 2007, the airline began serving the Eastern and Northern Caribbean via Saint Maarten with a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 and with an additional McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in June 2008. Insel Air also added services to Miami via Curaçao and Bonaire at this time.
In 2009, Insel Air began operating four new destinations – Medellin, Charlotte, Barquisimeto and Caracas.
Since then, the company has grown into an airline with thirteen aircraft, eleven which are owned by Insel Air.
In 2012 Insel Air Aruba received its AOC certificate, giving the airline official authorization to perform services out of that island. Insel Air Aruba will begin operating 13 new routes – Miami, Santo Domingo, Cuba, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Bonaire, Curacao, Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo, Ecuador, Belem, and Manaus.
Insel Air has interline agreements with the following airlines – Tiara Air, US Airways, Winair, GOL, Avianca, Blue Panorama, Hahn Air, and Air France and code share agreements with KLM and Surinam Airways.