Aruba Airport and Aruba Tourism elevate presence at Routes Americas 2024 Conference in Bogota

A standout moment for Aruba Airport this year was the fact that the Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) joined the event, marking a milestone in the airport’s 28th time attending the Routes Conferences. The collaboration with A.T.A. allowed for a comprehensive representation of the island, providing airline partners with a holistic view of Aruba's offerings, efforts put into the route and potential when new partnerships and routes are explored.

"Incorporating the expertise and insights of both the Aruba Airport and ATA teams under one roof at a strategically well-located stand was a strategic move," noted Barbara Brown, Chief Revenue Development & Communications Officer at Aruba Airport. "This joint effort allowed us to provide our airline partners with a complete spectrum of information, from airport facilities and development to the island's hotel room inventory and marketing efforts in each market, facilitating informed decision-making." “Our collaboration at Routes Americas 2024 epitomizes Aruba's unwavering commitment to building synergy and working seamlessly towards a future tourism strategy for our destination. With a shared vision and collective expertise, we elevate Aruba's profile, ensuring our source markets are well connected, and offering the desired ease of travel for our valued customers,” noted Sanju Luidens, Chief Marketing Officer at Aruba Tourism Authority.

Aruba Airport and the Aruba Tourism Authority proudly unveiled a shared stand at Routes Americas 2024, marking the first time in this 28th Routes Conference attendance since the late 90ties, that such a collaborative effort has been undertaken at this conference. This stand served as a hub of information, showcasing the island's unparalleled beauty, diverse attractions, and seamless air travel experience.

The Aruba delegation at Routes Americas 2024 was led by Barbara Brown, along with Jo-Anne Meaux-Arends, Aviation Business Development Executive, and Mary Joan Wardlaw, Customer Relationship Officer, representing Aruba Airport. The A.T.A. team, consisting of Sanju Luidens, Chief Marketing Officer, Sjeidy Feliciano, Area Director North America, and Jordan Schlipken Croes, Area Director Latin America, added their destination marketing expertise to the collaboration.

Throughout the conference, the Aruba delegation engaged in over 22 productive meetings with both established and emerging airlines, as well as key airports such Guarulhos Airport and Rhode Island Airport Corporation. These discussions led to the formation of exciting new partnerships with industry leaders including GOL, Flair Airlines, Breeze, Alaska Airlines, and JetSMART.

"Aruba Airport's commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships was further underscored by the special recognition bestowed upon our esteemed airline partners," added Jo-Anne Meaux-Arends, Aviation Business Development Executive. "JetBlue, British Airways, and Wingo were honored for their exceptional contributions to Aruba's air connectivity and passenger experience." JetBlue was celebrated for achieving the highest market share (20%) and seat capacity (19%) in terms of total passenger traffic, with notable increases in seat capacity from Boston (10%) and JFK (5%). Wingo, recognized as the fastest-growing airline in Latin America, demonstrated remarkable growth in revenue-generating passengers and seat capacity to Aruba. British Airways received special acknowledgment as they marked their first year of operating the London Gatwick – Aruba route, enhancing connectivity between the two destinations.

The participation of Aruba Airport and the Aruba Tourism Authority at Routes Americas 2024 underscores their commitment to driving the growth and success of Aruba's aviation sector, solidifying its position as a premier destination in the Americas.