Aruba – Puerto Rico route encourages economic growth between the islands

Aruba Airport Authority N.V., celebrated together with Insel Air Aruba and other related partners, the Aruban carrier’s inaugural flight to Puerto Rico, after a seven year hiatus following American Airlines’ cancellation of the route it had maintained for some 20 years.

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) CEO James Fazio congratulated Insel Air Aruba, referring to the new venture as a “big win”. “Strategically it’s a very important destination. If you get to San Juan, you can get to anywhere in the Caribbean. Having that network, I believe, encourages economic growth between the islands,” Fazio remarked.

The airport director said it was surprising that this market had been left unserved for so long, as when American Airlines was active on the route between Aruba and San Juan, which is the most important Caribbean hub for this airline, there were 130.000 passengers going between the islands annually.

San Juan is also the largest airport hub in the Caribbean, with over 8 million passengers handled per year.

“This is a market that had to be served and I think Insel stepped up and saw that opportunity, and we are very happy as an airport that they did it and I think that they are going to be very successful,” James Fazio emphasized.

He explained that Puerto Rico being a commonwealth of the U.S.A. makes it much easier for other airlines to expand to U.S. destinations out of Aruba as well, and the U.S. preclearance services at the Aruba Airport is extremely valuable in that regard. Opening any new markets in the U.S. also becomes exponentially easier.

As for the Reina Beatrix International Airport, as the long term planning has been finalized, AAA is focusing on short term planning and goals as well at this time. Short term planning was difficult to work on while management was not sure what the airport was going to be like in three to five years, but management is now moving forward with other plans.

In the next 8 to 12 months, Fazio explained, the focus will be on introducing public Free WiFi throughout the terminals and streamlining the passenger flow for an improved incoming and outbound airport experience by introducing e-gates at the immigration border for arrivals, upgrading the outbound immigration situation and providing car rental counters in the baggage claim area.

The e-gates, in cooperation with Aruba immigration services, and car rental counters for example contribute to the objective to get the passengers off the airplane as quickly and expeditiously as possible and in a safe and secure way, Fazio added.

Among other changes taking place is the replacement of the Gate 7 food unit with a Juan Valdez Café and the addition of a 400 square meter build out for concessions to include an Asian wok concept, a fresh food concept and a wine bar concept.

Passengers will also notice some cosmetic improvements, with the replacement of carpets with terrazzo floor tiles, and the addition of new lighting features, in general a brightening up of the public areas.

In concluding, James Fazio explained that all short term plans are being developed parallel to the airport’s long term plans, which include a new baggage system, expansion of the U.S. check-in hall, and the addition of three gates to accommodate future capacity.