St Maarten-Based Winair Is Adding More Flights to Saba and Statia

Caribbean carrier Winair is expanding its flights to a pair of tiny Dutch Caribbean islands: Saba and Statia. 

Beginning June 1, the St Maarten-based carrier will run twice-daily flights to both Saba and Statia. 

The expanded service will run through at least Aug. 31, according to Claudio Buncamper, director of marketing at Winair. 

In September and October, the flight schedule will shift to five days with two flights — on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 

It’s the only way to get to both islands, neither of which receive international flights (both Saba and Statia are part of The Netherlands).

“Should demand need additional flights, we can have these loaded,” he said. 

Next season, the twice-daily service will begin again. 

Depending on demand, Winair could even ramp up to three daily flights to the two islands, according to Buncamper. 

It’s a big boost for the charming Dutch Caribbean islands; both of which take between 15 and 25 minutes from St Maarten. 

The news comes as a major new ferry service also just launched from St Maarten to Saba and Statia. 

Anguilla-based Blues and Blues is now operating a 72-foot catamaran fast ferry called Makana on the St Maarten-Saba-Statia triangle route. 

Saba recently lifted all testing rules to the destination. Statia’s rules were also recently eased, although testing is still required for unvaccinated travelers and most unboosted travelers.