Aruba Airlines
{{short description|Flag carrier of Aruba}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Aruba Airlines N.V.
| logo = Aruba Airlines.svg
| logo_size = 250
| image = Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-232 (P4-AAD) at Miami International Airport.jpg
| IATA = AG
| ICAO = ARU
| callsign = ARUBA
| founded = 2006
| commenced = 31 March 2013
| ceased =
| aoc =
| hubs = {{nowrap|Queen Beatrix International Airport}}
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer = DiviMiles
| alliance =
| subsidiaries =
| fleet_size = 1
| destinations = 3
| parent = Seastar Holding N.V
| headquarters = Oranjestad, Aruba
| key_people = *Esteban Valles (CEO)
- Francisco Arendsz (CFO)
| founder = Onno J. de Swart
| website = {{URL|http://www.arubaairlines.com/}}
}}
Aruba Airlines (legally {{lang|nl|Arubaanse Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.}}) is the flag carrier and the sole airline of Aruba. The airline was founded in 2006, providing scheduled and charter air transport for passengers to 13 destinations. Aruba Airlines's corporate headquarters is in Oranjestad, Aruba. The airline operates its primary maintenance base in Miami. They received an AOC from the United States in 2015.
History
Aruba Airlines was established by Onno J. de Swart in 2006.{{Cite web|url=http://curacaochronicle.com/aviation/press-release-settlement-between-aruba-airlines-and-de-swart/|title=Press release: Settlement between Aruba Airlines and de Swart|date=16 June 2017}} It began charter operations with a seven-seat Piper PA-31 Navajo in 2010. The main headquarters is in the city of Oranjestad in Aruba, which is the main operation center, and the airline opened a new office at Queen Beatrix International Airport. It also has smaller offices in Miami, Curaçao, Bonaire, Maracaibo, Valencia and Maracay.{{cite web|url=http://www.arubaairlines.com/#contactus|title=Aruba Airlines - Contact Us|accessdate=21 April 2015 }}
In early 2012 the company attracted new investors, leading to the upgrade of operations to jet aircraft. The company received an economic air operator's certificate in August 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.curacaochronicle.com/region/minister-otmar-oduber-signs-economic-aoc-for-aruba-airlines/|title=Minister Otmar Oduber signs economic AOC for Aruba Airlines|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115201613/http://curacaochronicle.com/region/minister-otmar-oduber-signs-economic-aoc-for-aruba-airlines/|archive-date=15 November 2017|url-status=dead}} The airline then arranged to lease two Airbus A320 twin-engined 150-seat jet airliners; the first one arrived in Aruba in November 2012.[http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/caribbean-islands-news/aruba-news/the-morning-news-aruba-news/item/30639-aruba-airlines-welcomes-their-first-airbus-320 Aruba Airlines welcomes their first Airbus 320] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627074832/http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/caribbean-islands-news/aruba-news/the-morning-news-aruba-news/item/30639-aruba-airlines-welcomes-their-first-airbus-320|date=27 June 2013}} The aircraft started to fly charter flights from Aruba at the end of 2012 and scheduled operations started on 31 March 2013, with Maracaibo, Venezuela as its initial destination. Flights to Panama City, Panama began on 5 July of that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/203643/aruba-airlines-begins-operation-to-maracaibo-panama-city-from-june-2013/|title=Aruba Airlines Begins Operation to Maracaibo / Panama City from June 2013|publisher=Routesonline|accessdate=21 July 2013|archive-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113214128/http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/203643/aruba-airlines-begins-operation-to-maracaibo-panama-city-from-june-2013/|url-status=dead}}
Aruba Airlines also started flying between Aruba to Curaçao and Santo Domingo in December 2015, operating with the Airbus A320.{{Cite web|url=http://curacaochronicle.com/aviation/aruba-airlines-inaugurated-its-first-flight-to-curacao/|title = Aruba Airlines inaugurated its first flight to Curaçao|date = 16 December 2015}} In May 2016, it was announced that the Curaçao-Santo Domingo flight, as well as Panama, would be temporarily suspended and that operations would resume soon when able, although no reason was given for this.{{Cite web|url=http://curacaochronicle.com/aviation/aruba-airlines-informs-temporary-suspension-of-our-operations-on-the-aruba-curacao-aruba-route/|title = Aruba Airlines informs: "Temporary suspension of our operations on the Aruba-Curacao-Aruba route"|date = 4 May 2016}} In July 2016, the airline celebrated the signing of their fourth aircraft, with its first Airbus A319. The aircraft was delivered to Aruba Airlines in December 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://curacaochronicle.com/aviation/aruba-airlines-celebrates-the-incorporation-of-their-fourth-aircraft/|title=Aruba Airlines celebrates the incorporation of their fourth aircraft|date=5 July 2016}}
Aruba Airlines announced on 2 October 2017, that it would be re-introducing service to Curaçao and introducing a new service to Bonaire. The flights would be operated with a Dash 8-300 that was signed for in September 2017, and that service to Curaçao would begin on 23 October 2017, with Bonaire's date to be announced.{{Cite web|url=http://curacaochronicle.com/local/aruba-airlines-confirms-starts-operating-route-aruba-curacao-on-october-23/|title=Aruba Airlines confirms: Starts operating route Aruba – Curaçao on October 23|date=3 October 2017}} However, the first flight was canceled due to the Dash 8 aircraft not being delivered on time, and the airline officially commenced service to Curaçao on 25 October 2017, utilizing a Bombardier CRJ200, leased from Voyageur Airways, that was previously used to fly between Curaçao and Sint Maarten after the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.{{Cite web|url=http://curacaochronicle.com/aviation/aruba-airlines-canceled-first-flight-to-curacao/|title=Aruba Airlines canceled first flight to Curaçao|date=25 October 2017}}
In a press conference held live in Curaçao on 27 October 2017, Francisco Arendsz, the airlines' accountable manager, stated that the airline had planned to order an additional Dash 8-100, along with the original aircraft that was expected to be delivered as backup. This was when they revealed that the original aircraft was not ready. The current plan is to temporarily use the leased CRJ200. The second CRJ200 will be delivered, wearing the company's official livery. Bonaire was planned to commence on 16 November 2017, if Aruba Airlines was permitted by Dutch Civil Aviation Authority.{{Cite news|url=http://antilliaansdagblad.com/nieuws-menu/16597-aruba-airlines-nu-wel-naar-curacao|title=Aruba Airlines nu wél naar Curaçao|last=Eindredactie|date=28 October 2017|work=Antilliaans Dagblad|access-date=28 October 2017|language=nl-NL}} Additional destinations planned for November include Barquisimeto and Punto Fijo. The press conference also reflected on the future of the airline, including destinations planned for 2018, which included New York City, Argentina, and Bogotá. Flights to Argentina and New York were planned to be flown by an Airbus A330 that had supposedly been ordered recently.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/esocur/videos/1547334745304617/|title=ESO (Evento Show i Otro)|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=28 October 2017}} On 14 November 2017, the inaugural flight to Curaçao, the CEO stated that next year there would be additional four aircraft, excluding the already ordered CRJ200 for next year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.vigilantekorsou.news/2017/11/15/bon-recepcion-pa-aruba-airlines-cu-start-sali-cu-su-operacionnan-pa-corsou/|title=Bon recepcion pa Aruba Airlines cu a start sali cu su operacionnan pa Corsou - Vigilante|last=straker|date=15 November 2017|work=Vigilante|access-date=16 November 2017|language=en-US}}
Due to sanctions made by the Venezuelan government in the first half of 2018, the fleet renewal would be announced near the end of the year.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=19 April 2018 |title=Reanundacion di Aruba Airlines su vuelo nan pa y for di Venezuela - 24ora.com |url=http://24ora.com/reanundacion-di-aruba-airlines-su-vuelo-nan-pa-y-for-di-venezuela/ |access-date=19 April 2018 |work=24ora.com |language=}}
Destinations
File:Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-232 (P4-AAA) at Miami International Airport.jpg landing at Miami International Airport in 2016]]
As of December 2023, Aruba Airlines flies to the following destinations:{{cite web|url=http://www.arubaairlines.com/destinations|title=Destinations|website=arubaairlines.com|publisher=Aruba Airlines|access-date=20 July 2016}}
Fleet
=Current fleet=
As of November 2023, the Aruba Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{cite web|url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Aruba-Airlines|title=Aruba Airlines Fleet Details and History|website=Planespotters.net|access-date=23 February 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Aruba Airlines fleet |
| rowspan=2|Aircraft
!rowspan=2|In !rowspan=2|Orders !colspan=3|Passengers !rowspan=2|Notes |
|---|
| C
!Y !Total |
| Airbus A320-200
|1 |— |– |180 |180 | |
| Total
!1 !— !colspan=5| |
=Former fleet=
Aruba Airlines previously operated the following aircraft:
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Aruba Airlines former fleet |
| Aircraft
!Total !Introduced !Retired !Notes |
|---|
| Airbus A319-100
|1 |2016 |2018 | |
| Airbus A321-200
|2 |2021 |2023 | |
| Bombardier CRJ200
|2 |2017 |2020 | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo
|1 |2006 |{{unknown}} | |
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{commons category-inline|Aruba Airlines}}
- [http://www.arubaairlines.com/ Official website]
{{Airlines of the Netherlands Antilles}}