SLM (Surinam Airways) can be Saved and Grown, needs a NEW Vision, NEW leadership and it has a fantastic future ahead, no BS here! Read on:

May 11, 2021

Tomas's Comment:

Emotions are high in Suriname, on how to go forward with SLM, and few realize that it is THE symbol of the Republic of Suriname, it is the only contact Americans and Europeans ever have with Suriname when they see it at an airport in Florida or the Netherlands.

The end of a national airline is always said, they started off with so much fanfare and hopes of many new nations like Suriname, but sadly most turn out to be financial disasters for their government's just 2 months ago we had the demise of Air Nambia, another small state with a small airline of 10 aircraft, another carrier that had too much political interference, corruption and the wrong people in the wrong positions, and that always leads to trouble.

I want to see SLM survive this Covid-19 crisis as it has a bright future ahead, IF it is supported today and lead well from here on.

The current plan to give SLM $US 2 million a month for the next 12 months sucks! spend $US 24 million keeping the status quo with 2 x B737-700's? NO! start fixing it today, pivot the strategy put in $US 24 million now, and in 12 months you have 4 aircraft (including a B737 freighter) and 3-4 new destinations, realign network to where the markets are going to be, not chasing markets where the trouble lies, like Miami vs 5 American Airline flights a week. Find destinations that SLM can serve profitably, look Covid-19 will fade away slowly, people will want to travel to the Caribbean real soon as more and more people get vaccinated. SLM needs to be ready for the uptake in the CARICOM, where it has all kinds of potential, and yes 15 aircraft in 8 years, $US 500 million in revenue is possible, as in the future +70% of revenue for SLM will be outside of Suriname.

IF SLM is to grow it needs its employees, yes too many right now, given the fact SLM returned the B777-200ER to Boeing BUT in one swoop deleted 51% of the capacity of its fleet, which means a lot less revenue potential with just the B737's.

So what will Suriname do? politicians have a tough choice kill it like Guyana Airways, Air Jamaica or save it like when BWIA was done and Caribbean Airlines stepped in and Trinidad & Tobago saved its aviation industry and control of its air access and air connectivity.

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Surinam Airways (SLM) can be saved and fixed but needs NEW vision, NEW leadership, and then just maybe it can be saved. The airline is stuck in an old business model and strategy, the same old Miami, Curacao, Amsterdam etc.

Now, no widebody for Amsterdam so air Belgium for now eventually KLM monopoly, and anyway time for a strategic pivot to Brazil and Caricom, now under MASA SLM can operate in and out of all 15 Caricom states, including 5th, 6th, and 7th freedoms, the equivalent of EU's Open Skies, now they can have a base or two outside of Suriname.

SLM aircraft do not have to come home to the barm every night, they can stay away and make money flying between Caricom states to flying outside of Caricom states with traffic rights as most Caricom members have no airline or no aircraft above 19 seats (Guyana, Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Belize, Jamaica).

From a market of 600,000 people now you have a market of 18 million in the Caricom and another 10 million diasporas around the world.

Brazil is the economic powerhouse in South America, many cities over 1 million people, NE Brazil could be tapped for traffic through Paramaribo, etc.

SLM has failed Suriname, a small rather isolated nation like Suriname needed its flag carrier to be the engine of economic development, from driving tourism from many destinations (not just 1 country in Europe) not just 1 city in Brazil, and then international trade needs cargo aircraft of their own (perishables, fish, fruits, vegetables) as Suriname has lots of lands, it and Guyana could be the 'bread baskets' for the Caribbean, but it needs cargo aircraft to do that.

Time to wipe clean the old thinking and start seeing the forest and not just a tree here and there, the potential is huge.

I have proposed in my Presentation, that within 8 years, SLM can have 15 aircraft and be a $US 500 million a year company, with 1,000+ direct employees and another 1,500+ indirect jobs (hotels, restaurants, lodges, services, etc.) of course NOT all revenue will be from Suriname, probably 70% will be generated outside of Suriname, that is ok, SLM will grow and prosper faster outside of its borders.

Time to think BIG, that is what attracts investors, that is what motivates employees and governments (jobs, foreign currency earnings, and new taxes), everyone benefits, including Pendel Airport, new graduates, new training center and lots of IT jobs, as aviation in Suriname needs to go digital!

Time for Suriname to get noticed, don't be shy, be proud, and grow, and become a visible nation at last!

Look Insel Air (Curacao) had 15+ aircraft before it collapsed, CAL has 17 aircraft, Jamaica used to have 22 Airbus's, NOT a fantasy, it is possible IF have the VISION, LEADERSHIP as then the money is out there for an airline about to grow and become highly profitable, no more 20+-year-old used aircraft! Suriname is good enough today to have new aircraft one day! modern,fuel-efficient, and economical.

So what will it be swim or sink? like so many around it?

In 2001 Guyana Airways went bankrupt, and nothing since, Air Jamaica shut down in 2015 and nothing there now! in 2006 BWIA went bust BUT Trinidad & Tobago saw its value and quickly in 2006 set up Caribbean Airlines to take its place, now Suriname has a choice, another Guyana Airways or another Caribbean Airlines? which will it be??

God bless Suriname! and God save SLM!