ORANJESTAD – Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA), represented by Barbara Brown, Chief Revenue Development & Communications Officer, and Jo-Anne Meaux-Arends, Aviation Business Development Executive, attended the 28th edition of Routes World in Istanbul. Routes World is a key event in the global aviation industry, bringing together over 2,500 decision-makers from airlines, airports, and aviation stakeholders, as reported by Routes Online.

During the conference, Aruba Airport held more than 20 meetings with both established and emerging airlines, as well as key airports like Bello Horizonte and Guarulhos Airport. The meetings resulted in the establishment of exciting new partnerships with industry leaders such as Flair Airlines, Air France, Edelweiss Air AG, and Breeze. As Aruba has experienced an increased demand, particularly from the US, Canada, and Latin America market, attending such a conference solidifies its position further as a high-yield market and preferred destination for airlines seeking to expand.

Aruba Airport also addressed capacity challenges in Europe, including at Schiphol, and discussed airlift plans for 2024-2026. These plans include significant expansion projects at AUA, the island’s room inventory developments, and the introduction of new services and additional flight frequencies. Notable highlights include:

• Southwest is set to increase its summer 2024 flight frequency on the Baltimore (BWI) – Aruba (AUA) route. The service will transition from 2 weekly flights to 5 weekly flights, using Boeing 737 and 738 aircraft, offering approximately 143 seats per flight. This expansion is expected to generate approximately 429 additional weekly seats to Aruba from Baltimore. Southwest has already made substantial strides at Aruba Airport, with an earlier increase in flight frequency from Orlando (MCO) to daily service earlier this year.
• Delta Air Lines has confirmed the addition of a second service at JFK for the winter season and plans to upgrade its aircraft from a B757 to an A320 neo in response to growing demand.
• Copa Airlines, which currently operates daily flights to Panama (PTY), plans to double its flights in 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to expansion.
• Canadian Airlines are dedicated to enhancing direct service to the island during the summer months, offering passengers more travel options.
• Wingo is expected to establish a fourth gateway in 2024, further enhancing connectivity and accessibility to Latin America.

These developments mark an exciting phase of growth and enhanced travel options for Aruba Airport, as it positions itself to offer travelers exceptional experiences and further strengthens its prominent position in the global aviation industry