Surinam Airlines recently took delivery of its first Boeing 737-800 on a dry lease from AerCap. The aircraft was earlier operated by Caribbean Airlines. The aircraft will be based at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.
The airline operates flights to destinations like Georgetown (GEO), Aruba (AUA), Curaçao (CUR), Miami (MIA), and a long-haul service to Amsterdam (AMS). The airline has two aircraft A320 for short-haul and A330-200 for Amsterdam flights, both the aircraft are currently on wet lease with Airhub, but now with the newly added B737 the airline will be able to operate the flight with its own crew.
The lease was first revealed earlier this year. Steven Gonesh, the acting chief executive had described this agreement as very important moment for Surinam Airways after a turbulent period. He also said that having your own flying equipment and identity onboard is of utmost importance.
Surinam Airlines has been facing financial turbulence since a long time with debts amounting to $75 million forcing the airline to remove two B737-700 and one Boeing 777-200ER from its fleet. With the onset of pandemic, the airline further plunged into debt. However, the delivery of this new aircraft has given a new lease of life to the ailing airline that hopes to return to financial stability in months to come.