GUYANA could be on the list of established destinations that Antilles Airline, Insel Air, wants to return its flight services to now that bankruptcy protection has been granted to the financially-strapped Dutch carrier.
Reports out of Curaçao is that Insel has received protection from the bankruptcy court in that country, and from its creditors’, permission to extend its repayment period. The bankruptcy court voted to defer Insel’s required payments, allowing the airline breathing space to re-establish its financial footing.

Insel had found itself in a bit of a pickle earlier this year when Aruban courts declared the airline bankrupt. Apart from technical and safety issues that arose due to the lack of funds for fleet maintenance, it was said too that a large amount of the airline’s funds was tied up in ailing Venezuela, where the company also operated.
In a public missive on August 25, Insel said that it was “very pleased” with the decision of the Bankruptcy Court of Curacao to extend the suspension of payment granted in March. “The Management Board of Insel Air International is very appreciative of the vote of confidence shown by the positive response of the many creditors that accepted the proposal for the extension of the moratorium.”

Insel said it sees the extension as an opportunity to improve benefits to its commercial partners while ensuring the future operations of the airline. In conversation with Suriname’s De Ware Tijd news site, Insel’s executive member, Edward Heerenveen said that neighbouring Suriname would be among the first destinations the company will return to, given their Dutch-speaking connections. He said apart from Curaçao, focus is currently being placed on Aruba, Bonaire and St. Maarten, “We want to return to Suriname first, where we have not only done good business but also because of the strong ties between us as Dutch speaking countries.”

Roraima Airways is Insel’s Guyana handler. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Gerald Gouveia, said Friday that discussions are taking place within Insel for their return to Guyana. “They are looking at coming back, they want to come back, but they are organizing things first. There has already been discussions,” the CEO said.
Roraima Airways had teamed up with the Dutch carrier since 2014 to ultimately offer Guyanese connections to some 27 destinations, including some South American countries, Miami, U.S. and The Dominican Republic. Insel said that the company’s management will continue to work out its financial issues in pursuit of a strategic plan to return their service to normalcy. Insel said “We have proven that they(we) can stand on our own again and this is why we are restoring our confidence,” with the possibility of continued expansion.