KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced the re-introduction of a codeshare agreement with Caribbean inter-island operator Winair. The deal will the codeshare partners collaborate on the Dutch carrier’s flights from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (AMS) to several destinations around the Caribbean operated by Winair, namely St. Bartholemew (St Barts), Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Tortola.
According to Winair, the collaboration is aimed at “making travel easier and more convenient for passengers connecting between KLM’s flights and Winair’s flights around the region.” Under the terms of the agreement, KLM will add its flight code to the range of destinations operated by Winair. Passengers will be able to book flights to a destination served by both airlines using a single ticket. Additionally, customers can check in at any KLM or Winair location, have their luggage sent straight to their final destination, and receive boarding passes for their entire journey all via one seamless transaction.
“This partnership will further strengthen St. Maarten Princess Juliana International Airport’s (SXM) position as a key travel hub in the northeastern Caribbean, boosting connectivity and tourism throughout the region. It allows travelers from Europe and beyond to enjoy seamless, same-day connections to the Caribbean, with added peace of mind in case of flight disruptions,” said a Winair statement.
“This collaboration with KLM, one of the world’s top airlines, reflects the trust they have in Winair’s safety, reliability, and service,” said Hans van de Velde, CEO of Winair. “We are proud to offer our customers this level of convenience and connectivity.”
KLM operates regular flights to three airports located in the Dutch Antilles using its six-strong fleet of Airbus A330-200s. Five weekly flights use St Maarten as their first Caribbean stop before heading onwards to Port of Spain in Trinidad. The carrier also serves Aruba with seven weekly flights, plus Curaçao with eight weekly flights. The carrier’s A330-200s seat 264 passengers in a three-class configuration (18 business class, 36 premium economy, and 210 in economy).
Winair (originally known as Windward Islands Airways) was founded in 1961 and is a state-owned Dutch regional carrier based in St Maarten. The carrier currently serves 16 destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, the Leeward Islands, and the Lesser Antilles. According to ch-aviation, the airline currently operates a fleet of four 19-seat De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otters and three 48-seat ATR 42-500 aircraft.