Français
Last April, the management of Air Caraïbes announced the resumption of direct flights between Paris and Sint-Maarten's Princess Juliana airport. The news was welcomed by elected representatives and residents of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, who were keen to benefit from price competition between Air France and Air Caraïbes. But early last week, rumors were rife that the airline had decided not to relaunch the service. For several days, JSB tried to obtain explanations from Air Caraïbes management. But every request went unanswered. Only the communications department deigned to send a terse e-mail confirming that "this reopening will not take place". A bit short.
Reinforcement of the Paris-Guadeloupe-Saint-Martin route
Since then, the company has been no more forthcoming. Nevertheless, a letter signed by the company's management was circulated on Monday September 2. In it, it is once again confirmed that "the resumption of non-stop service to Saint-Martin Juliana from Paris-Orly by Air Caraïbes, announced last April at a rate of 2 flights a week between November 2024 and May 2025, will not take place, as the conditions for the commercial success of this route have not yet been met".
Management stresses that the Air Caraïbes fleet will be strengthened by the "imminent arrival" of a new A350 based in Paris and two new ATR72s based in Pointe-à-Pitre. These aircraft will increase the number of seats and frequency of flights to Grand-Case airport in Saint-Martin, "both from Paris and Pointe-à-Pitre".
"Frantz Gumbs' "incomprehension and disappointment
As soon as the first articles on the subject appeared in the press, Frantz Gumbs, Member of Parliament for Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, wrote a letter to the President of the French Republic.a letter addressed to the President of Air Caraïbes - Air Caraïbes Atlantique, Christine Ourmières-Widener. In his letter, the parliamentarian writes: "During our meeting at the National Assembly in April, we had a lengthy exchange of views on the company's objectives and its desire to establish a foothold in the Caribbean and offer the best for its inhabitants and their territory. On April 29, at a press conference with Ladom, you officially announced the resumption of this transatlantic route by the end of 2024, declaring your company's attachment to "this cosmopolitan jewel of the Caribbean". Today, while ticket sales for the direct service between Saint-Martin and Paris have been launched, I would like to express my incomprehension and disappointment at this cancellation. "
The MP continued: "I'm thinking in particular of the customers who are caught off guard, and who are automatically placed on a flight with a stopover that they didn't choose. I'm also thinking more generally of the inhabitants of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, who will remain landlocked and will once again be financially penalized by the sole presence of Air France on the Paris - Princess Juliana - St. Martin transatlantic route. "And he concludes: "It seems to me that this uncertainty should be resolved, and explanations provided for this new situation. "The MP has not since communicated on the response he has, or has not, received from the company's management.
In a press release from Air Caraïbes management dated September 2, the company states that it is not definitively giving up on the relaunch of the direct service between Paris and Sint Maarten. "When market conditions are again favorable, Air Caraïbes will reconsider the non-stop service from Paris-Orly to Sint Maarten Juliana", it states. So all hope is not lost. However, no provisional timetable has been put forward by Air Caraïbes management. After the fanfare of last April's announcement, caution will undoubtedly be the order of the day.
Air France: more flights between Sint Maarten and Paris
While Air Caraïbes has decided not to relaunch its direct service between Paris and Sint Maarten this November, Air France has announced an increase in flights between Princess Juliana airport in Sint Maarten and Paris Charles de Gaulle. From December 20, fourteen flights a week will be operated by Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a capacity of 224 seats (36 seats in the Business cabin, 21 seats in the Premium cabin and 167 seats in the Economy cabin). Connections will also be possible between Saint-Martin (SXM) and Saint-Barthélemy (SBH) in partnership with Winair. Every day, a flight will depart from Sint Maarten at 5:10 p.m. and arrive in Paris at 6:40 a.m. the following day, explains the Soualiga Post, which relayed the information. Every day except Saturday, a flight will leave Sint Maarten at 6 p.m. and arrive in Paris at 7.25 a.m. the following day. The airline has scheduled a third rotation, on Saturdays only, departing Sint Maarten at 7:45 p.m. and arriving in Paris at 9:10 a.m. on Sundays. In addition, KLM will serve Juliana to and from Amsterdam-Schiphol with five flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) using Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Tickets are already available for booking.
