Surinam Airways Explained

Airline:Surinam Airways
Dutch; Flemish: Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij
Fleet Size:2
Destinations:10
Iata:PY
Icao:SLM
Callsign:SURINAM
Parent:Government of Suriname
Headquarters:Paramaribo, Suriname
Hubs:Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport
Frequent Flyer:Loyal Wings
Num Employees:500

Surinam Airways (Dutch; Flemish: Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij), also known by its initials SLM, is the flag carrier of Suriname, based in Paramaribo.[1] It operates regional and long-haul scheduled passenger services. Its hub is at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (Zanderij). Surinam Airways is wholly owned by the Government of Suriname.

History

The airline was established in 1953 by private entrepreneurs Rudi Kappel and Herman van Eyck as the Kappel-Van Eyck Aviation Company (Dutch; Flemish: Luchtvaartbedrijf Kappel-Van Eyck), aimed at operating feeder flights from a domestic network. Scheduled operations started with two Cessna 170B in January 1955 with domestic flights between Paramaribo and Moengo.

On 30 August 1962, the company was purchased from Herman van Eyck by the Surinamese government and renamed Surinam Airways or in Dutch SLMSurinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij. The logo of Surinam Airways depicts a 'Sabaku', which is a Surinamese word for cattle egret.

From 1964 Surinam Airways started scheduled international operations to Curaçao together with ALM Antillean Airlines.

Upon the country's independence in, the carrier was appointed as the national airline of the Republic of Suriname, and it also started services to Amsterdam using a Douglas DC-8-63 (registration: PH-DEM, named '25 November') that was leased from KLM.

At, the carrier had 400 employees. At this time, the fleet consisted of a Douglas DC-8-63, a Douglas DC-8-50CF (registration: PH-DCW, named 'Sabaku') and three Twin Otters (PZ-TCD, PZ-TCE & PZ-TCF). It operated international routes to Amsterdam, Belém, Curacao, Georgetown, Manaus, Miami and Panama City, and domestic services to Apoera, Avanavero, Bakhuys, Djoemoe, Ladouanie, Moengo and Nieuw Nickerie.

From 1955 until 2005 Surinam Airways operated an extensive domestic network.

In 1983 the regional routes were flown with a Boeing 737-200 (registration OY-APR) leased from Maersk Air (named 'Tjon Tjon').[2] The transatlantic route was flown with DC-8's leased from Arrow Air, DC-8-62 registered N1806 and also DC-8-63, registered N4935C, named 'Stanvaste. From May 1993 until April 1999 a DHC-8-300 Dash 8 (registration: N106AV) was used on the regional routes.[3]

On 7 June 1989, a Douglas DC-8-62 (registration: N1809E, first named 'Fajalobi, later re-christened into 'Anthony Nesty') crashed on approach to Zanderij Airport, killing 175 occupants on board.

From January 1996 until December 1999 Surinam Airways used a MD-87 (PZ-TCG, named 'District of Para') and thereafter a DC-9-51 (PZ-TCK, named 'District of Wanica') and an MD-82 (PZ-TCL, named City of Paramaribo') on the regional routes.

, the airline had 543 employees.

From August 2004 until the end of 2009 Surinam Airways operated a Boeing 747-300 (PZ-TCM, named 'Ronald Elwin Kappel'), which was purchased from KLM. It was replaced with a 317-seater Airbus A340-300 (PZ-TCP, named 'Palulu) and later another younger A340-300 (registration: PZ-TCR).[4] [5]

In early 2009, Surinam Airways ordered two Boeing 737-300s (PZ-TCN, named 'District of Commewijne and PZ-TCO, named 'District of Marrowijne') to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-82s.

A Boeing 737-700 (PZ-TCS, named 'District of Saramacca') was leased from DAE Capital and arrived on 30 April 2018 in Suriname and became operational in May 2018,[6] [7] this plane was formerly flown by Air China.[8] [9] In December 2018 a second Boeing 737-700 (PZ-TCT, named District of Brokopondo') arrived, formerly flown by Aeromexico and leased from Air Castle.

From December 2019, a Boeing 777-200ER was leased from Boeing Capital to replace the Airbus A340-300 previously used on the Paramaribo – Amsterdam route. The aircraft was registered PZ-TCU, named 'Bird of the Green Paradise with a special livery and performed its first commercial ETOPS flight in December 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and possible high maintenance costs the B777 was returned in March 2021. It was parked for a while in Victorville.[10] Now Boeing is using this aircraft as its new ecoDemonstrator.[11] [12]

Corporate affairs

At one time the company had its head office at Mr. Jagernath Lachmonstraat 136.[13], Surinam Airways was the owner of both the only terminal in Zanderij Airport and the only ground handling company in that airport.[14]

Senior management

On 16 April 2021, the Surinamese Government, during the SLM General Meeting of shareholders, appointed Dutchman Paul de Haan as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Surinam Airways (SLM).[15] [16] In January 2022 Xaviera Jessurun was appointed by the Government as chairman of the board of the SLM.[17] On 9 April 2022, Frenchman Yves Guibert was appointed as the new senior vice president operations.[18] In July 2022 the management of Surinam Airways announced the company would dry lease a Boeing 737-800 for its regional routes in order to reduce its Monthly expenditure.[19] [20] The financially troubled Surinamese airline will use government owned gold company's Grassalco's gold stock as cover for financing facility converted into a term deposit for the SLM recovery plan. "The recovery plan is based on a formulated business plan, in which the revenues for the coming period are projected, based on the planned operations. With a thorough implementation of the recovery plan, it is assumed that no claim will have to be made to the coverage provided," the senior management of the company reports on 25 July 2022.[21]

Destinations

Surinam Airways operates scheduled services to the following destinations, . Terminated destinations are also listed.

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
ArubaOranjestadQueen Beatrix International Airport
BarbadosBridgetownGrantley Adams International Airport[22]
BrazilBelémVal de Cães International Airport
CuraçaoWillemstadHato International Airport
France, French GuianaCayenneCayenne – Félix Eboué Airport[23]
GuyanaGeorgetownCheddi Jagan International Airport
HaitiPort-au-PrinceToussaint Louverture International Airport
NetherlandsAmsterdamAmsterdam Airport Schiphol
SurinameAvanaveroAvanavero Airstrip
BakhuysBakhuys Airstrip
DjoemoeDjoemoe Airstrip
AuroraLaduani Airstrip
MoengoMoengo Airstrip
Nieuw NickerieMajor Henk Fernandes Airport
ParamariboJohan Adolf Pengel International Airport
Zorg en Hoop Airport
StoelmanseilandStoelmans Eiland Airstrip
WashaboWashabo Airport
Trinidad and TobagoPort of SpainPiarco International Airport[24]
United StatesMiamiMiami International Airport
OrlandoOrlando Sanford International Airport[25]

Codeshare agreements

Fleet

Current

, Surinam Airways operates the following aircraft:

Historic

Surinam Airways operated the following aircraft throughout its history:[27] [28]

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Offices in Surinam." Surinam Airways. Retrieved on 6 January 2011. "HEAD OFFICE Mr. Jagernath Lachmonstraat 136 POBox: 2029 Paramaribo – Suriname"
  2. Web site: Suriname. Suriname – Paramaribo. 2021-03-12. suriname.nu. NL.
  3. Web site: CEO Paul de Haan – Hoogte en dieptepunten. dbsuriname.com. 31 August 2021 . NL.
  4. Web site: PZ-TCM Surinam Airways Boeing 747-300M. 2021-03-12. planespotters.net. en.
  5. Web site: nieuwe SLM A340 vertrekt tweede kerstdag vanaf Schiphol. luchtvaartnieuws.nl. 26 December 2015 . nl.
  6. Web site: SLM receives first Boeing 737-700. 20 April 2018. luchtvaartnieuws.nl. 21 December 2018.
  7. Web site: SLM krijgt nieuw toestel; Lachmising en delegatie reizen af naar china | Public Nieuws . 14 April 2018 . 15 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180415003935/http://demo.publicnieuws.com/2018/02/slm-krijgt-nieuw-toestel-lachmising-en-delegatie-reizen-af-naar-china/ . dead .
  8. Web site: SLM directie naar China voor nieuwe 737-700. Rob. Somsen. 18 February 2018.
  9. Web site: Archived copy . 14 April 2018 . 14 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180414233851/http://wp.caribbeannewsnow.com/2017/09/04/surinam-airways-eyes-boeing-for-imminent-fleet-renewal/ . dead .
  10. Web site: Woerkom. Klaas-Jan van. 2021-03-03. Surinam Airways stuurt enige Boeing 777 naar de woestijn. 2021-03-12. Luchtvaartnieuws. nl.
  11. Web site: Boeing 777 EcoDemonstrator. 20 June 2022 . CNN. 16 August 2022.
  12. Web site: See Inside Boeing 777 EcoDemonstrator. businessinsider.com. 16 August 2022.
  13. "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 24–30, 1993. 125. "Coppenamelaan 136, Paramaribo, Republic of Suriname"
  14. News: DAE forces SLM to provide ground handling services in Zanderij. Curaçao Chronicle. Willemstad. 3 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130610091553/http://www.curacaochronicle.com/aviation/dae-forces-slm-to-provide-ground-handling-services-in-zanderij/. dead. 10 June 2013.
  15. Web site: Surinaamse regering wil Nederlander aan het roer bij Surinam Airways. 2022-08-16. luchtvaartnieuws.nl. 6 March 2021. nl.
  16. Web site: Paul de Haan vanaf vandaag officieeel nieuwe CEO SLM. 2022-08-16. waterkant. 16 April 2021 . nl.
  17. Web site: Surinam Airways cancels several flights facing severe financial problems. 2022-08-16. jamaicaobserver.com. 8 June 2022 .
  18. Web site: SLM bevestigt nieuwe buitenlandse senior vice president operations. 2022-08-16. waterkant. 10 April 2022. nl.
  19. Web site: Surinam Airways dry lease Boeing 737-800. 2022-08-16. gatechecked.com. 20 May 2022.
  20. News: Surinam Airways sluit overeenkomst voor dry-lease Boeing 737-800. 2022-08-16. luchtvaartnieuws.nl. nl.
  21. News: SLM inzet Grassalco goudvoorraad. 2022-08-16. waterkant. nl.
  22. Web site: Surinam Airways to begin schedule service between Georgetown and Bridgetown this month . 4 December 2023 .
  23. Web site: La compagnie Surinam Airways ne desservira plus la Guyane à compter du 1er juin. 24 May 2018 .
  24. Web site: Suriname Airways to reintroduce flights to T&T. associatestimes.com. 2022-05-26. 2022-05-27.
  25. Web site: Surinam Airways Adds Orlando Sanford Flight July – Sep 2015. Airlineroute.net. 23 June 2015. 23 June 2015.
  26. https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/surinam-airways-and-winair-forge-interline-partnership
  27. Web site: Sabaku in-flight magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083229/http://www.slm.firm.sr/uploads/magazines/f1cba6a0a77e39023525ad862ddf1e105e8890db.pdf. 2016-03-04.
  28. Web site: Database compiled by Arno Landewers . 6 November 2021 . landewers.net.
  29. Web site: SLM maakt eerste lijnvlucht met 'nieuwe' Boeing 737-752 vanuit Suriname. waterkant.net. 3 February 2019 . 3 February 2019 . nl. /
  30. Web site: SLM verwelkomt 2e boeing 737-700. dagbladdewest.com. 11 December 2018 . 24 December 2018 . nl. /
  31. Web site: Nieuwe SLM Boeing land vanavond op Zanderij . DAGonline.nl . 16 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 . nl.
  32. Web site: Surinam Airways Fleet. ch-aviation GmbH. https://web.archive.org/web/20131109143721/http://www.ch-aviation.ch/portal/aircraft/search?search=1&cha=PY. dead. 9 November 2013.
  33. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-6A N3493F Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport (PBM). Harro Ranter. 5 May 1978. 24 April 2015.