Insel Air looking ahead..again

[frank kramer]

According to local newspaper Antilliaans Dagblad today (saturday), all creditors present in court in Willemstad yesterday (friday) accepted the banktrupcy protection plan. A temporary scheme was in operation since March but had to be renewed. It now runs till 31 august 2018. Currently, Insel is operating two Fokker 50's and is not losing money, but the emergency goverment loan of 33 million Antillean guilders has been spent on the restructuring. It is hopeful of turning a profit from september, when surplus personnel can be laid off. In september, they also hope to introduce the first MD80 into the operation. However, that will also depend on whether they can reach an agreement with neighbouring countries (where they still have debts). Their hopes on receiving outstanding payment fom Venezolean debtors seem to have vanished.

[frank kramer]

The first MD would be introduced on the Hato-St Maarten route, currently served by the F50.

[frank kramer]

And another update following more info from Antilliaans Dagblad and my own small visit to Hato: Insel is currently operating Fokker 50's PJ-KVM and -KVN from Hato. Two others are stored at Hato. Both KVM and -N are flying multiple times a day as witnessed the last few days. Four Fokker 70's are stored at Hato, one with a white tail. Six MD80's are at Hato in full colours. At least four of them lack one or more engines. Plans to increase the number of operational aircraft are moving along. On tuesday 29 august MD80 P*-MDI made a testflight. There is, however, a certification problem. The MD's and F70's were registered in Aruba (P4-***), but the authorities there revoked their licences last january. Some aircraft are in the proces of being registered in Curaçao (PJ-***) but the transfer has not been completed yet. Interestingly, the testflight of -MDI thus took place with the Aruban "4" in the registration covered with a white sticker...

At the years end Insel hopes to have re-introduced a third F50 as back-up for the other two. Also, they plan to have a second MadDog up and running. However, that one would require a rather costly C-check first, but the funding appears to be available. Currently, there are no plans to operate any of the F70's. This scenario is a stand-alone operation; talks with the investors behind Avianca are also said to be ongoing.

I will post a log in the appropriate section as soon as my jetlag wears off and I've had time to check my pictures.

[HV7572KC]

Thanks Frank! Quite curious how my CUR-SXM flight will be in October, reservation still mentions it will be a Fokker 50 flight. Also curious about the on time performance.

[frank kramer]

Due to the limited destinations they now serve with the two F50's, on time performance actually is quite good!

[HV7572KC]

In the end didn't fly CUR-SXM, KLM rebooked me on a return from CUR because of AMS-SXM-AMS flights still canx for this month.
PJ-KVM and PJ-KVN still both active Fokker 50's.
PJ-MDI active MD-80

In storage seen:

P -MDC (only carrying her left engine)
PJ-MDE (only carrying her left engine)
PJ-MDF (no engines)
P -MDG (carrying her right engine, not sure about the left one)
P -MDH (no engines)

I guess those MDC/G/H have the 4 of P4 reg been taped/painted away.

As for the Fokker 70s: (here also the 4 in the reg has been removed).

P -FKA (in full Insel cls)
P -FKB (in full Insel cls)
P -FKC (not seen, but one is seen as PH-KZH!, this ones prior registration, not sure why they put PH-KZH sticker on this bird)
P -FKD (full white livery)

At least 2 other Fokker 50s are stored here (couldn't read those numbers), one inside the hanger looking in pretty OK condition, the other isn't in a very good shape.
Also one Embraer 110 is also stored in between those birds.