Curacao Government Called on to Save Local Airline

Curacao Airport Holding (CAH), together with the Curacao Tourism Bureau (CTB) and the Curacao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA), believes that the government should help Insel Air with their dire financial situation.

“Disappearance of the aviation company would be disastrous for the Curacao economy and we can’t allow this,” CAH Director, Maurice Adriaens said in an interview with the local newspaper Extra.

Adriaens confirmed that the three organizations have sent a letter to the government with requesting help for the local aviation company. It is known that Insel Air is going through some financial difficulties because of the situation in Venezuela. Insel Air has about $80 million dollars stuck in the South American country.

According to Adriaens, the three organizations explained in the letter that it is worthwhile saving the airlines due to the important position the company has for the island’s economy. The government itself has recently requested advice on how it can save Insel Air.

The letter was sent to the government together with a proposal on how to save the company. Adriaens indicated that he believes the government will deal with this issue as soon as possible and hopefully, in the coming days, will call the various stakeholders to meet and come up with a solution.

CAH has also asked the Curacao Airport Partners (CAP) to withhold action against Insel Air. CAH has not been collecting payments from CAP for two weeks now. CAP has shown understanding for the situation but the debt is accumulating and the risk is increasing. If the government decides that it will not help Insel Air then it will have serious consequences for the company and it will affect others. The director recognized that the effects will be great if Insel Air is declared bankrupt.