BOGOTA, WILLEMSTAD – Minister of Economic Development Eugene Rhuggenaath travelled to Bogota with a delegation from InselAir and the Curaçao Tourism Board (CTB) to meet with top representatives of the Colombian airline Avianca concerning possible synergies and areas of cooperation.
According to the Minister, it was a positive exploratory meeting. “We are also happy to report that the conversations will continue in the coming weeks,” said the Minister.
“I fully support this process and am very thankful for the introduction by our CTB in October last year. My feeling is that this possible collaboration is right and I am very satisfied with the team effort today.”
The leader of the MFK party Gerrit Schotte announced, during the urgent meeting of the group of eleven, that he has information about negotiations with Avianca to take over Inselair. When asked about these statements, Minister Rhuggenaath indicated that Schotte is a well-informed man but that he likes to twist the truth. Rhuggenaath said that there are also other strategic partners the local airline is talking to but they will not mention their names.
Curaçao Chronicle

WILLEMSTAD – The caretaker Minister of Economic Development Eugene Rhuggenaath says that a strategic alliance between InselAir and Avianca is not something that will take place immediately. It will take a few months before the parties can reach a preliminary agreement and a few more months for a definitive agreement. The Minister indicates that there are several important factors playing a role for this agreement to take place.
“All parties must be informed first. We must also do the necessary research for this strategic alliance. We also need a due diligence, which is normal in these types of cases,” says the Ministers. “All these things take their time.”
During his visit to Avianca in Bogota, the Minister spoke with the representatives of the Colombian airline on the possibilities of a strategic alliance with InselAir. The parties agreed that they will continue their conversations soon.
Minister Rhuggenaath says that he is very positive that both airlines will reach an agreement. “The visit actually exceeded my expectations. We were welcomed with open arms,” says the Minister.
The Minister rejects all accusations that he had not paid attention to Avianca’s request which apparently was made a few months ago. “Of course we are not going to make our negotiations and contacts public. We should also consider whether the parties want this to be public. That is why we are extremely cautious about what we say in public.”
Curaçao Chronicle

WILLEMSTAD–Curaçao’s caretaker Minister of Economic Development Eugene Rhuggenaath says a strategic alliance between local carrier InselAir and Avianca of Colombia is not something that can take place immediately.
It will probably be a few months before parties can reach a preliminary agreement and a few more for a definite accord. The minister indicated that there are several important factors to consider.
“All stakeholders have to be informed first. We must do the necessary research for this partnership as well. We also need a due diligence, which is normal in these types of cases and all these things take their time.”
During his recent visit to Avianca’s head office in Bogota, Rhuggenaath met with representatives of the Colombian carrier on the possibilities. They agreed to continue their conversations soon.
The minister is very positive that the two airlines will eventually reach an agreement. “The visit actually exceeded my expectations. We were welcomed with open arms,” he said.
Rhuggenaath rejects all accusations that he had not paid attention to Avianca’s earlier request for cooperation, which was apparently made a few months ago. “Of course we are not going to make our negotiations and contacts public. We should also consider whether the parties want this to be public. That is why we are extremely cautious about what we say in public.”
Meanwhile, Aruba’s Tax Department has seized the bank account of InselAir Aruba due to arrears in payment. This could also present a problem for releasing the carrier’s MD (McDonnell Douglas) planes registered there and grounded by that country’s Civil Aviation Authority, even though the technical and administrative issues have reportedly been resolved.
A Parliament meeting in Curaçao on the troubled local airline was postponed at the end of last week due to the motions of no-confidence passed against four ministers including Rhuggenaath by the “new majority.” Newly installed Parliament President Gilmar “Pik” Pisas (MFK) will try to reconvene the plenary session this week in consultation with the relevant outgoing ministers.
The Daily Herald

TORONTO — The Transportation Safety Board is investigating after an Air Canada plane briefly left the runway while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur says the aircraft’s landing gear left the runway for a short distance when landing Friday night.
TSB spokeswoman Julie Leroux says Flight 623 from Halifax was carrying 118 people and so far no injuries have been reported.
She says the Airbus A320 will be moved to a hangar at the airport to be examined.
Leroux adds that the investigators will ask for the flight data recorder — also known as a black box — as well as examine weather conditions, and conduct interviews with passengers and Air Canada.
Arthur says the airline is connecting passengers with hotel accommodations and limousines for those wishing to head home. She says luggage will be delivered once maintenance and the authorities “have finished reviewing events.”
“We apologize for the inconvenience and will be in touch with our customers to follow up on the event and ensure they are all well taken care of,” she says.
CTV News

MEMPHIS, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

FedEx Corp. (FDX) today announced that its FedEx Express subsidiary has entered into an extension to the express air transportation contract with the United States Postal Service originally executed on April 23, 2013. The contract modification extends the agreement through September 29, 2024.

The modified contract is expected to generate revenue of approximately $1.5 billion per year for FedEx Express. FedEx Express will provide airport-to-airport transportation of USPS Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail within the United States.

“We are pleased to be able to extend this agreement and to continue the outstanding service that FedEx Express has provided to the USPS for more than 16 years,” said David J. Bronczek, president and chief operating officer of FedEx Corporation. “This contract provides USPS with the operational reliability and flexibility they have come to expect from FedEx.”
Yahoo Finance