ANP
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NOS News•today, 20:58
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The Surinamese airline Surinam Airways, also known as the Surinamese Aviation Company (SLM), is canceling a series of return flights to Amsterdam this month. It concerns seven outward and return flights that were planned between 8 and 17 July. Several Surinamese media report this, including Dagblad Suriname.
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The airline says the situation is caused by the aftermath of the corona pandemic, not having its own fleet and high fuel prices. Flights to Miami are also being cancelled.
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Reorganization initiated
According to the newspaper, the company says “fundamental intervention is required”. A reorganization is said to have been initiated to make the company healthy again. Travelers affected by the cancellations can claim a voucher or have their flight rebooked.
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One of the travelers affected by this is Loraine Oosterhuis-van de Leuve’s father. She informs the NOS that her father has been trying to fly from the Netherlands to Suriname since last Sunday. “We are now trying to book through KLM, but a one-way ticket is four times as expensive.” She says that the Surinamese airline is widely used by Surinamese who travel to the Netherlands.
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In addition, there is no communication from the airline itself, she says. “We have not been officially told anything, we had to hear it through the media.”
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Confidence under pressure
According to Aviation news trade site Surinam Airways has been in financial difficulties for years. The company is said to be heavily indebted and no longer has its own aircraft. Renting planes elsewhere is very expensive.
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The airline could not be reached for comment this evening for NOS.
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