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Windward Express Airways is an airline based at Princess Juliana International Airport in the island of Sint Maarten. It provides air charter and cargo services throughout the Eastern Caribbean.
| |||||||
| Founded | 2000 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating bases | Princess Juliana International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 1 | ||||||
| Destinations | 27 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Windward Express operates chartered and cargo flights to 27 destinations throughout the Caribbean.[1] The airline flys routes primarily to the Islands of St Barthélemy and Saba from Sint Maarten. Additionally, Windward Express offers day trips to Anguilla and Sint Eustatius.[2]
As of summer 2024, Windward Express currently operates a single Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (Registered PJ-WED). Thanks to its STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capabilities, the type is ideal for operations at airports with short runways in the Caribbean such as Saint-Barthélemy, Baillif, Les Saints, and Saba.[3]
Windward Express is one of only three airlines certified to land at Saba's short runway.[4]
Former fleet
Windward Express's fleet has contracted in recent years. The airline used to operate the following additional aircraft:
| Aircraft | No. of Passengers | Regristration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander | 9 | PJ-WEA | Destroyed in Hurricane Irma 2017[5] |
| Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander | 9 | PJ-WEB | Under possible rebuild after crash in Feb 2023. |
| Piper PA-23 Aztec | 4-5 | PJ-WEC | Last confirmed flight: Jan 2020[6] |
On the 13th of February 2023, a Windward Express BN-2B-20 Islander (registered PJ-WEB) sustained substantial damage while landing at the Saba-Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB / TNCS). The aircraft struck the ground to the left and approximately one meter before the threshold of runway 12. With the main landing gear severely bent, the aircraft subsequently made a hard landing on the runway. The pilot, two passengers, and a dog exited the aircraft unharmed.
Weather was ruled as the main factor in the accident. Rain showers were reported in the area at the time of accident, and a heavy downdraft likely forced the aircraft into the terrain.[7]
The airframe of PJ-WEB was subsequently dismantled on the apron of the airport suggesting an attempt to transport and/or rebuild the aircraft. Satellite data from March 2024 shows the pieces of the airframe still at Saba airport.
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