(Photo Courtesy Josveek Huligar)
Trans-Anguilla Airways (2000) Limited has launched a new marketing programme, called “Island Flight Services” under which a passenger service was introduced to St Eustatius on Monday this week.
The service is part of a campaign undertaken by the Gumbs’ family, owners of the airline. “The objectives are to acquire more aircraft to ensure more efficient and convenient connections,” a press release stated. Those connections, to and from Anguilla, include such key destinations as Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St. Barths, St Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis and now St. Eustatius.
Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mr Haydn Hughes, travelled to that island on board the Trans-Anguilla Airways aircraft for the official welcome ceremony. He said the new service would increase inter-regional travel. He pointed out that it would provide opportunities for Anguillians to travel to St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis at very affordable rates; and that the service would be fast, efficient and reliable. He hoped that the flights would attract more visits to Anguilla from St Eustatius particularly during the upcoming Summer Festival.
Trans-Anguilla Airways’ President, Vernol Gumbs, told the St Eustatius Executive Council that the aim of the airline was to offer efficient service as one of the commercial airlines of the North Eastern Caribbean.
The family-owned airline was established in 1999 by the late Mr Joshua Gumbs of Rey Hill. In addition to Mr Vernol Gumbs, his brother, Lincoln Gumbs, serves as Managing Director.
The airline operates a 9-passenger BN2 Islander aircraft on the Anguilla-St Eustatius-St Kitts route. The airline owns two planes based at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport. The pilots have over thirty years of flying experience between them. There are also two full-time engineers and mechanics ensuring a smooth and safe level of operations with service provided by Gumbs’ Aircraft Maintenance Limited.
