What Happened
The interim management team of Aruba Airport, led by Chief Operations Officer Jurgen Benschop, Chief Financial Officer Aisha Anthony, and Chief Revenue Development & Communications Officer Barbara Brown, wishes to inform the community and passengers about a significant situation that occurred at the airport earlier today. Early this morning, a rupture occurred in the main water chiller pipe between the utility building and the terminal. This pipe is crucial as it provides cold water to the terminal from our chillers.
Initially, we were unsure of the problem’s exact location, but the terminal began to warm up, and our Building Management System (BMS) started issuing error notifications. After about two hours of investigation, our team, led by Jurgen Benschop, discovered the broken main chiller pipe, which is located underground. Water was seen emerging from the ground, confirming the location of the issue.
Due to the rising temperature inside the terminal, we faced safety concerns, including potential condensation on the floors, which prompted us to halt the processing of passengers in all terminal areas. After realizing the complexity of the repair, we extended the airport closure beyond the initial three hours. Flights were diverted, and some crews timed out, leading to cancellations and leaving around three to four thousand passengers stranded in Aruba. We then had to cancel all incoming flights for the rest of the night to free up hotel rooms for the stranded passengers.
In an interview, Jurgen Benschop emphasized the challenging nature of the situation, highlighting the importance of safety and the collaborative efforts of the interim management team to address the issue swiftly.
What Travelers Have to Do
For all tourists currently stranded in Aruba, we strongly urge you to contact your airline representatives directly to arrange for rebooking. The rebooking process must be coordinated between you and your airline, as the airport cannot facilitate this on your behalf. Rest assured, the airport will cover any related expenses once you have secured a new flight.
We are working closely with airlines to bring in additional flights starting early tomorrow morning and continuing over the next few days to ensure all passengers are accommodated. As tomorrow, Saturday, is the busiest day at the airport, with 50 flights and over 5,000 passengers scheduled, it may take more than one day to clear this situation.
For continuous updates, please check the airport website or maintain communication with your airline for direct information. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this challenging time. The interim management team, comprising Jurgen Benschop, Aisha Anthony, and Barbara Brown, is fully committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers during this transition period.
