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Passengers are seen embarking a WiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAir plane at Hato Airport in Curacao.

 WILLEMSTAD--WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIR will have to wait at least another month to fiND out if it can permanently operate four additioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl flights per week between St. Maarten aND Curaao, according to the newSPAper Amigoe in Curaao, based on the lawsuit against the government of Curaao that was heard in Willemstad on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the jUDge in this LAR procedure (administrative litigation) unsuccessfully attempted to mediate the conflict between the airline aND the government, represented by Curaao Minister of Traffic aND Transportation Charles Cooper (MFK).

The ruling is scheduled for August 23. For many passengers, this will be too late. The next available direct flight that can be booked is on August 19, with the rest nearly fully booked.

Passengers at risk of missing important events, from funerals to regioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl football tourSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAments, or even the Curaao North Sea Jazz Festival at the eND of August, face challenges. They may have to rely on American Airlines via Miami, a 15-hour journey that is three times as expensive.

WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIRs lawyers accuse Minister Cooper of obstructing the request for additioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl flights because St. Maarten has refused extra flights for Curaaos Z Air. Z Air is currently engaged in legal battles against the government.

The aviation authority DG CCAA points out that Z Air still has many requirements to meet, such as the inspection of its aircraft, before it can fly between Curaao aND St. Maarten. This does not apply to WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIR, which complies with all regulations.

The request for three additioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl flights was submitted in April, before Curaao airline Jetair went bankrupt. Now there is even more market SPAce. Therefore, WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIR withdrew its April request aND submitted a new request in June for four additioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl flights per week.

There is no market saturation, especially not in a free market where fair competition is the goal, argue WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIRs lawyers. Officially, the government has a reasoSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble period of four months to decide on a request, according to the governments argument this morning. However, considering the withdrawal of the April request aND the June application, a decision would only come in the last quarter of this year. This is too late, especially given the urgent interest aND the current conflict with the principle of equality as laid down in the Multilateral Protocol between Curaao aND St. Maarten.

In short, this principle ensures that the airlines of the countries are given the opportunity to compete fairly aND equally in providing air transport. The real reasons for Minister Coopers refusal, we know from Facebook, are Z Air does not get a permit, so WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIR wont either, because thats not how we operate. This is also uSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAcceptable in a kingdom with a liberal aviation policy, the plea states.

The urgency is further uNDerscored by the fact that WISPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAIR cannot utilise its aircraft efficiently, resulting in high cost. AdditioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly, the social cost is enormous. Both the people aND the economies of Curaao aND St. Maarten (inclUDing tax revenues) benefit from sufficient air connectivity, while the significant shortage of seats is evident.