Surinam Airways Seeks Partnership, Fleet Expansion

Surinam Airways (SLM) is looking to replace the only wide-body aircraft in its fleet, the A340-300 that services the Paramaribo-Amsterdam route when its lease expires next year. SLM management is looking to replace the aircraft with two wide-body aircraft, either the Boeing 767 or the Airbus 330.

For some time now SLM has been experiencing financial losses, especially on the Paramaribo/Amsterdam route by plying only one aircraft on that segment. When the Airbus 340 experiences technical problems or must be taken out of service for routine maintenance, the airline incurs major expenses to compensate passengers and lease other equipment.

This is why SLM is looking to add two wide-body aircraft to its fleet in the near future. Stiffer EU legislation that favors passengers is hemorrhaging SLM.

According to Air Finance Journal, the airline management is contemplating approaching Exim Bank of China to finance the purchasing of an aircraft to add a first in-house aircraft to its current all-leased fleet, which also includes three B737-300s.

Vice president of finance and ICT, Judith Redmount, told Air Finance that SLM is also looking to enter into a partnership with another airline. However, owing to anti-trust laws, a renewed tie-up with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has been ruled out. According to a knowledgeable source, a partnership will nevertheless soon be announced.

Source: Caribbean News Now