Double digit percentage traffic growth and the highest quarterly revenue generating passengers (RGP) figures in the last seven (7) years, simply put, Queen Beatrix International Airport made history in 2007. Both Passenger and aircraft movements were up compared to fourth quarter 2006 by 19.9% and 26% respectively. Passenger RGP figures for October, November and December were 16.4%, 18.3% and 24.6% higher than the same months in 2006. Cumulative PGP passenger figures have been the highest they have ever been during the last seven years during October, November and December of 2007 punching in at 739,806, 815,958 and 902,874 tanslating into a record 11.7% year end 2007 increase over 2006.

As with passenger figures, monthly aircraft movements during the final quarter of 2007 hit record highs. October, November and December showed a 15%, 18.4% and 36.5% growth over the same months in 2006. Total aircraft movements increased with 8.1% to 35774 for 2007 compared to 2006.
All main tourism markets have shown an increase during the forth and final quarter of 2007 compared to 2006. Latin America, that struggled during the first 6 months of the year bounced back with a vengance at a 77% increase over fourth quarter 2006, December showed an astounding 109.7% increase. The majority of the growth in Latin America came from Venezuela with the incentive to obtain US currency being a major influence on the huge increase. North America, the Netherlands Antilles and Europe showed quarterly results at 8.5%, 19.7% and 21.7% respectively.

North America has seen additional scheduled service from Boston and Washington, Dulles with higher aircraft yields overall and destination branding efforts continuing to increase the passenger flow traffic. Spirit Airlines launched November 10, 2007 from Fort Lauderdale and Vacances Sunquest launched scheduled charter service from Montreal to Aruba on December 21, 2007. From the European market we have seen the increase of Martinair service to twice weekly from Amsterdam. In Latin America, Aserca and Avior have added service and major charter frequencies from Venezuela. In addition, AAA welcomed Venezolana Airlines from Maracaibo as a new airline partner servicing Aruba twice daily from Caracas and Maracaibo.

“Our hard work and the commitment of our entire team have led to these fantastic quarterly and year end figures” a proud Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director Aruba Airport Authority N.V., said. “Our dedicated team made it happen and we look forward to a strong 2008 together with our partners Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association. 2008 will see us focusing our efforts on maintaining air service and targetting specific air service potential areas. Fuel prices, airline merger speculations, US economic resession potential and presidential elections, the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and the European Soccer Championship will have effects on tourism. However, we are confident that 2008 will be a strong year for Aruba and we are happy to contribute to the welfare of the destination.”