Finance Minister Gumbs calls for formal pension plan for WINAIR employees as airline marks 65 Years

GREAT BAY--Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs is calling for WINAIR employees to be provided with a formal and comprehensive pension plan, saying the airline’s financial stability and long-term success should now be matched by greater retirement security for the employees who have helped sustain the company.

The call comes as Windward Islands Airways International N.V. marks its 65th anniversary, a milestone Gumbs used to highlight both the airline’s financial resilience and what she described as the need to strengthen employee welfare.

“In my humble view, it is high time that WINAIR employees are provided with a formal, comprehensive pension plan, aligning the airline with all the other government-owned companies in St. Maarten,” Gumbs said.

The Finance Minister said WINAIR’s financial sustainability should go hand-in-hand with social responsibility, particularly as employees in other government-owned entities benefit from structured retirement arrangements.

“WINAIR workers deserve peace of mind when their years of service come to an end,” Gumbs said. “Giving employees a proper pension is not just an added benefit; it is a fundamental matter of fairness, equity, and good corporate governance.”

Gumbs also congratulated WINAIR’s Executive Board, Supervisory Board of Directors, management, staff, past employees and passengers on the airline’s 65th anniversary.

Founded in 1961 by Georges Greaux, Hippolyte Ledee and Chester Wathey, WINAIR grew from a small local flight operation into a regional airline connecting St. Maarten with destinations throughout the Northeastern Caribbean, including Saba and St. Eustatius. Over the decades, the airline has supported tourism, commerce, healthcare access and family connections throughout the region.

Gumbs said WINAIR’s longevity is particularly significant considering the difficult operating environment faced by Caribbean airlines, many of which have struggled with high operating costs, fuel-price volatility, competition and financial instability.

She pointed to WINAIR’s ability to withstand economic downturns, supply-chain disruptions, inflationary pressures and natural disasters while continuing to develop its operations.

Recent expansion, record passenger volumes and the introduction of modern aircraft to expand the airline’s destination network were cited by the minister as evidence of sound management and continued development.

“WINAIR has established itself as a model of financial resilience in a rather turbulent industry,” Gumbs said. She added that the airline’s ability to remain solvent, self-sustaining and commercially competitive should be a source of pride for St. Maarten as a shareholder country.

The Finance Minister stressed, however, that the airline’s success cannot be measured only through its fleet, routes or financial performance. She credited WINAIR’s employees, including pilots, cabin crew, maintenance engineers, ground personnel and administrative staff, with keeping the airline operating safely throughout its 65-year history.

Gumbs said WINAIR’s anniversary should therefore be viewed not only as an opportunity to celebrate its past, but also to consider how the company can strengthen the long-term security of the employees responsible for its success.

She said government remains committed to supporting WINAIR’s continued growth, modern governance and long-term strategic viability.

“I applaud the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board of Directors, and every single employee, past and present, who has contributed to WINAIR's enduring legacy,” Gumbs said.

She described 65 years of operation in one of the region’s most challenging industries as a significant achievement and said the airline’s future should combine commercial sustainability, operational safety and efficiency with a stronger commitment to employee well-being.

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