Surinam Airways aims at new markets with Boeing 777-200
Surinam Airways’ Boeing 777, awaiting entry into service. Picture: Surinam Airways
On this site we often like to put the spotlight on some small airlines that, nevertheless, invest in interesting initiatives.
Today’s the case of Surinam Airways.
Why? Because Surinam Airways is getting its first Boeing 777-200. Quite a significant capacity increase for a 3-aircraft airline (the Surinamese flag carrier also operates 2 Boeing 737-700s) serving a country of just over half a million people.
This is not the first long-haul wide-body aircraft operated by Surinam Airways, an airline that started up way back in 1953, when Surinam was still a Dutch territory. At different times in its history, Surinam Airways flew Boeing 747s and A340-300 aircraft and, prior to that, Boeing 707s and DC-8s. Mostly on the key route to Amsterdam.
Opening up new markets
The Amsterdam run is going to be, of course, what this Boeing 777-200 is for, but Surinam Airways CEO, Radjesh Radjkoemar, confirmed to us that they are looking at other potential destinations for it, such as New York (to add capacity during the high season to a route that would otherwise operated by a B737-700) or even Belgium or Germany (where Dusseldorf could be a potential destination).
Visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR), particularly by the numerous Surinamese community in the Netherlands, represents the main segment of passengers, but Mr. Radjkoemar mentioned also how they had seen growing interest in the leisure market (with the Netherlands being again the main market, but with Germany, the US and Brazil growing as well) and, interestingly, for traffic between Surinam and China, transiting via Amsterdam.
For the short haul, Surinam Airways relies on a pair of Boeing 737-700s (fitted with 128 seats, 8 in business and 120 in economy class.that fly to Miami (via Georgetown, Guyana) and expecting to launch flight s to New York (JFK) soon (also via Georgetown). Other regional destinations as Aruba, Port of Spain (Trinidad), Belem and Fortaleza (Brazil), the latter being also a connecting point for Air France/KLM and Brazilian airline GOL, for Europe-Brazil traffic (although Surinam Airways does not have any partnership with these airlines).
A look at Surinam Airways’ Boeing 777 cabin
The Boeing 777-200, which was operated previously by Singapore Airlines, has already been delivered to Surinam Airways, but has not entered service yet as it awaits final green-light from the local aviation authority. The plan is that it starts flying between Paramaribo and Amsterdam Schiphol in February.
It is fitted with a two class cabin, with 26 business class seats and 245 in economy (there is no Premium Economy class as such, but some of the seats at the front of the economy class cabin have extra leg room). The aircraft is also equipped with Panasonic IFE.
Surinam Airways business class (Boeing 777-200)
Surinam Airways economy class (Boeing 777-200)
If all goes according to plan, Surinam Airways intends to get a second Boeing 777. This would allow them to increase frequencies on key routes and also wet-lease it to other operators in the region that may require some capacity increases during the high season.
Over the longer term, Mr. Radjkoemar confirm, the idea is for Surinam Airways to get a Boeing 787, but this has been pushed to an indeterminate date into the future.