Airlines

Airport of the Year 2009 Awards, Runner-Up Status

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) has received word that it has been awarded second place in Skytrax’ World Airport Awards - Best Airports in the Category for Central America and the Caribbean for the second consecutive year. First Place went to Panama City and third place went to Mexico City. Aruba is the only airport in its category that appears in the top three airports in both 2008 and 2009. Awards like these have special value as it is the traveling public who determine the winners by completing the survey. The World Airport Survey is conducted by UK-based aviation research organization, Skytrax.

The World Airport Survey™ is the Airport Survey that guarantees independence and unbiased impartiality. In its 11th year of operation, the study is respected for its transparency and authenticity. The World Airport Awards™ are based on the results from 8.6 million questionnaires completed by airline passengers in 2008/09, covering more than 190 airports worldwide. Passenger interviews include a detailed appraisal for more than 40 categories of product and service quality from check-in to departure, from arrivals to baggage collection - including terminal cleanliness, staff efficiency, staff courtesy, terminal signage, security processing, immigration and customers, walking distances, as well as features like shopping, dining options, and internet services.

“This award is a reassurance that our entire team’s hard work and efforts in upgrading our facilities and maintaining a constant quality product does pay off and that it’s recognized by the traveling public”, Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director AAA said. “Being a tourism destination in such a delicate period, we are very aware that every single part of the experience is of vital importance, having a good experience upon arrival and departure is the key focus of our success”.

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) has been actively working together with its valued air service partners in securing sufficient air service from New York JFK airport, Aruba’s strongest market.

American Airlines, Jetblue Airways and Delta Airlines have all responded positively and with receiving word yesterday from Delta Airlines, AAA will continue its support of efforts made by the Aruba Tourism Authority to ensure demand generated to maintain additional service. AAA has been actively participating and advising ATA on target cities and feeders and attend roundtable events organized by ATA and AHATA.
AAA is very pleased to announce that American Airlines has changed the arrival and departure times of their twice-weekly JFK service from late afternoon to 12:20 PM with a 13:30 departure back to JFK as of June 11, 2009.

Jetblue Airways has increased the effective summer period of their second daily JFK flight from March 8, 2009 through September 8, 2009 and even a 3rd Saturday flight on Saturdays during the same period mentioned above. Delta Airlines has added a 3rd JFK flight on Thursdays during the period of July 1, 2009 through September 5, 2009. Each additional flight from Jetblue and Delta consist of 150 and 185 seats respectively.
“This is excellent news and we are extremely pleased with the positive response gotten from our airline partners towards our request for additional service” Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director AAA said. “We will continue to support the efforts of our Tourism partners in securing the demand for our service network at profitable levels. Demand is a priority and competition is fierce world wide.” IATA, the International Air Transport Association, has just released a revised forecast for 2009 and the Director General and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani has bluntly stated that the airline industry is “in intensive care” and that the priority for survival will be the conservation of cash and adjusting capacity to demand.

Moody’s Investor Services, one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies, has affirmed the Baa3 rating of the bonds issued by the Aruba Airport Authority in 1997 and 1999. This rating is determined in two steps. First, the risk of the revenue bonds loan itself is reviewed and reflected in a rating the Baseline Credit Assessment. Then Moody’s reviews if an adjustment is required because it is likely that the Government will give extraordinary support if AAA cannot repay the loan by itself. Compared to the previous rating review in 2007, the Baseline Credit Assessment improved one notch from Ba1 to Baa3.

Moody’s mentions passenger growth and consistently improving financial results during the past years as the main reasons for this improved rating. Management’s successful efforts to diversify the company’s revenues and the well-controlled cost structure are also highlighted. The upward adjustment for possible government support, which was given in the previous rating, was not given this time.

Despite the current worldwide economic crisis, Moody’s has maintained a ‘stable outlook’ for the rating, meaning that it does not see significant threats of downward adjustment of the rating. Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director of AAA NV is pleased with the rating: “If many other companies get downgraded during this time of recession, a stable rating is almost a step forward! Especially the ‘stable outlook’ given by Moody’s is a sign that the efforts of management and employees of the past years to make AAA a healthy and strong company have paid off.”

ORANJESTAD – During its Relations party held on Friday January 16, 2009, AAA N.V. awarded Surinam Airways with the Wow! Award 2008. During his speech, AAA’s Managing Director Mr. Peter Steinmetz mentioned that every year AAA N.V. will award one of its relations for an achievement that stood out during the previous year.
That’s why this year AAA N.V. is very proud to announce that the winner of the first  Wow! Award was Surinam Airways for the introduction of the flight from Paramaribo, that transits on Aruba and continues to Miami. With the procedures implemented for this flight, it became the first hub product of the Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix.

Mr. Henk Fitz-Jim of Surinam Airways was very surprised and honoured with this prize. He thanked the Aruba Airport Authority N.V. and all authorities for the cooperation received in order to realize the Paramaribo-Aruba-Miami flight. He ended by informing everyone present that in 2009 there is much more to be expected from Surinam Airways. Amongst others Surinam Airways will add a third flight to Miami via Aruba.
The pictures illustrate when Mr. Steinmetz announced and presented the Wow! Award 2008 to Mr. Henk Fitz-Jim of Surinam Airways.

COPA Airlines started with 4 weekly flights to Aruba.

The tourism industry of Aruba warmly welcomed COPA Airlines a warm welcome with their inaugural flight connecting Aruba with South & Latin America.

After years of dedicated efforts spearheaded by the Aruba Tourism Authority and its tourism partners AHATA and AAA, Aruba became COPA Airlines’ newest Caribbean destination as of Monday December 15, 2008. COPA will launch 4 weekly flights (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays) using an Embraer E190 with a seating capacity of 94 passengers of which 10 in business class and 84 in economy class. Flights will be between Panama City, Panama and Aruba connecting to over 40 destinations in the Americas.

Celebration ceremonies took place both in Panama and Aruba and were presided by Aruban Minister of Tourism & Transportation Edison Briesen.
Upon arrival at the Reina Beatrix International Airport in Aruba, the COPA Airlines plane received the traditional water canon salute. Inside the airport building the ribbon cutting took place by Captain Beltran in the presence of Minister Briesen and executives from the Aruba Tourism Authority, AHATA, AAA and COPA Airlines.

“The Government of Aruba is proud to celebrate this achievement today as it fits with the government’s vision to diversify the tourism markets for Aruba. We are determined to make these flights a success and hopefully these flights will become daily flights very soon”, stated Minister of Tourism & Transportation Edison Briesen.

Eighteen touroperators and seventeen members of the press of the different Central and South American countries were invited as guests on the inaugural flight, with the objective to experience Aruba as a tourist destination.

Aruba Minister of Tourism & Transportation, Edison Briesen presented a painting by a local artist to Mr. Adolfo Sen, Regional Commercial Director of COPA Airlines as a memento of this great event.

Boston and New York JFK to receive an additional boost

Aruba Airport Authority N.V.(AAA) is pleased to announce air service increases for the coming winter season from one of its valued air carriers, jetBlue Airways. New York JFK will receive an additional Saturday frequency making the 1st Quarter 2009 schedule from JFK 2 times daily and 3 flights on Saturdays. Boston will receive a considerable boost in air service from jetBlue with service increasing from 3x a week to 4x week from January through the mid of February 2009. In addition, mid February through April 2009, Boston will see service increase from 3x a week to 7x a week, except Tuesday but Saturday will have 2x daily service.

The much needed increase in service compliments the steep decrease in charter service to Aruba from the North East region. The charter industry has been declining over the last several years as a whole. Markets such as Boston have flourished in Aruba mostly due to charter service which has been replaced with scheduled service, most notably Low Cost Carriers whom have greater customer advantages in areas such as pricing, flexibility and comfort.

Based on the recent schedule change from New York’s JFK Airport, AAA has been in constant contact with our airline partners in seeking opportunities to increase capacity and or frequencies in order to meet the demand for seats to the destination. jetBlue’s response in adding service will help closing the gap. American Airlines has changed equipment on Saturdays as well from a B757 with 188 to a B767 with 224 seats. Demand for the destination needs to remain strong and ATA and AHATA are focusing efforts on branding and marketing the destination.

“In a year that will be remembered as the year the airline industry had to completely reinvent itself, the immediate global impact of economic changes and erratic oil pricing behavior, effect everyone, our aim to maintain air service to Aruba has been and continues to be our main focus and is working,” Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director AAA noted. “Our strong relationship with our airline partners and our tourism partners give us the needed support to achieve positive results as these in the short term during very difficult times.

November departures now available!

Transat Holidays newest destination for this winter is now available for fall departures. Due to popular demand, the Aruba program that was originally scheduled to start on December 21st of this year is now slated for a start date of November 2, 2008. An idyllic Caribbean island, Aruba offers visitors an ideal climate with an average temperature of 30 degrees during the month of November mixed with cooling trade winds.

Transat Holidays’ Aruba program features the newly renovated Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Aruba. A 4 star, all inclusive property located on popular Palm Beach and close to the capital of Orangestad. Each of its 600 rooms have been fully renovated and offer guests air-conditioning, TV, internet access ($), mini-fridge and a balcony or terrace. The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort is a popular choice with Canadian travellers for its wide mix of facilities and services including a la carte restaurants, pizzeria, a Kids Club and an array of activities for adults.

As an introductory offer, Transat Holidays is offering the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Aruba at a price of $1198 per adult for departures November 2, 9 or 16. A savings of $440 per couple.

In addition to the Holiday Inn Sunspree Aruba, Transat Holidays resort selection includes the Occidental Grand Aruba, Divi Aruba, Radisson Aruba Resort and more. Sunday flights depart direct from Toronto starting November 2, 2008 through to April 26, 2009.

For more information on Transat Holidays to Aruba visit www.transatholidays.com

Aruba As Pre Clearance Hub To The United States

On August 25, 2008 Surinam Airways flight from the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport in Surinam arrived at the Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix in Aruba. Though Surinam Airways is a regular and long time guest at the Aruba airport, flight was a very special one for the Aruba Airport Authority as new transit procedures for non US destinations to US destinations were introduced. The procedures, as developed by AAA in close cooperation with Aruba Customs and Immigration authorities and the US Customs and Border Protection resulted in a smooth process for both the passengers in transit from Surinam and the passengers originating from Aruba. The first flight of this morning arrived in Aruba with a slight delay carrying on board 115 passengers from Surinam, and departed with a total of 127 passengers to Miami. Surinam Airways will be offering this service twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

During their short stay at our airport Surinam Airways crew members were welcomed and congratulated on this first flight of many to come. Surinam Airways also had the pleasure of having Surinam’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, Mrs. Apinsa on board of their first transit flight to Miami, via Aruba. “We’re very pleased with this increased service from Surinam Airways,” said Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director of Aruba Airport Authority N.V. “ With the operation of these flights Surinam Airways will contribute to the growing demand on Aruba for competitive flights to Miami …”

Aruba as pre clearance hub to the United States

On August 25, 2008 Surinam Airways flight nr. from the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport in Surinam arrived at the Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix in Aruba. Though Surinam Airways is a regular and long time guest at the Aruba airport, flight nr. was a very special one for the Aruba Airport Authority as new transit procedures for non US destinations to US destinations were introduced.

The procedures, as developed by AAA in close cooperation with Aruba Customs and Immigration authorities and the US Customs and Border Protection resulted in a smooth process for both the passengers in transit from Surinam and the passengers originating from Aruba. The first flight of this morning arrived in Aruba with a slight delay carrying on board 115 passengers from Surinam, and departed with a total of 127 passengers to Miami. Surinam Airways will be offering this service twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

During their short stay at our airport Surinam Airways’ crew members were welcomed and congratulated on this first flight of many to come. Surinam Airways also had the pleasure of having Surinam’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, Mrs. Apinsa on board of their first transit flight to Miami, via Aruba. “We’re very pleased with this increased service from Surinam Airways,” said Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director of Aruba Airport Authority N.V. “ With the operation of these flights Surinam Airways will contribute to the growing demand on Aruba for competitive flights to Miami.”

Surinam Airways flight PY463 from the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport in Surinam arrived at Aruba’s International Queen Beatrix. Though Surinam Airways is a regular and long time guest at the Aruba airport, flight PY463 was a very special one for the Aruba Airport Authority as new transit procedures for non US destinations to US destinations were introduced. The procedures, as developed by AAA in close cooperation with Aruba Customs and Immigration authorities and the US Customs and Border Protection resulted in a smooth process for both the passengers in transit from Surinam and the passengers originating from Aruba on their way to Miami. Surinam Airways will be offering this service to Miami twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.