One of EZ Air’s larger aircraft.
BONAIRE/ST. EUSTATIUS--Regional carrier EZ Air will be adding larger aircraft to its existing fleet of two nineteen-seat Beechcraft aircraft and one nine-seat Britten-Norman Islander. The two larger aircraft will reinforce the fleet around mid-2021.
The addition of the two larger aircraft comes after careful analysis of both the current fleet and the new aircraft to be added. “It may seem like an odd moment to expand, but in fact we were already working on this before the COVID-19 crisis hit us,” said EZ Air’s chief executive officer and shareholder Rene Winkel.
Although the circumstances have changed drastically in the past year, the airline sees various opportunities in the current market. Winkel says the two Beechcraft have proven themselves over the past two years and have done an excellent job. “At the same time, we notice that on many flights we have more demand than seats. Another issue is that on certain routes, like the one between Bonaire and St. Eustatius, luggage sometimes stays behind because of space or weight restrictions. This, of course, is not pleasant for either the passengers or for us.”
The addition of the new, bigger planes also opens the possibility to serve more destinations in the region. Although EZ Air is starting with the addition of two aircraft, a third aircraft is also being prepared to further strengthen the fleet, “and, if necessary, a fourth or fifth,” says Winkel.
If all goes according to plan, EZ Air’s network will consist of approximately 10 regional destinations after the addition of the new aircraft.
A big change for the airline, but also for the passengers, is that the new aircraft will have cabin crews on board. “Aircraft between 20 and 50 seats must have at least one steward or stewardess on board for flight safety,” said commercial director Sueyenne Dammerman, who in the past also worked as a flight attendant at Air Aruba, among other airlines. Dammerman will oversee recruitment and training of the new cabin crew.
The presence of cabin crew also makes it possible to provide passengers on longer flights with a snack and a drink.
Over the past two years, EZ Air has invested considerable amounts in new operational systems, including a new reservation system, a system for online check-in and a module for cargo operations. In addition to passengers, EZ Air now also transports a considerable amount of freight.
EZ Air’s main financier is the Caribbean Netherlands Pension Fund PCN, which loaned money to EZ Air through its investment company PMCN.
PMCN has been closely involved in discussions about EZ Air’s expansion with new and bigger planes. PMCN managers Walter Blijleven and Bharat Bhojwani said the financing is managed to their satisfaction, even in difficult COVID-19 times – “a small miracle,” says Blijleven. “EZ Air, in spite of the COVID-19 crisis, has found a way to generate the necessary business, despite the cancellation of many regular flights, with charters and cargo flights.”
