Airlines

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.

Mirto Granadillo, the former Director of the Aruba Tourism Authority in Latin American joined Tiara Air as company representative in Venezuela.

He is pictured here with Manager Commercial, Sales and Marketing Camilo Muyale, at the Tiara Air Service Center at Sun Plaza with company sales representatives Zarina Faarup and Darsy Kelly.

Tiara Air is extremely satisfied to have been able to recruit an experienced, well-respected and very qualified executive to spearhead Tiara Air’s expansion in Venezuela and later South American, Muyale declared.

Granadillo was at the helm of Aruba’s sales and marketing promotions in Latin America from 1976 to 2006, and has excellent contacts in aviation and in the travel community of the southern hemisphere.

Fluent in English, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Brasilero and French, he is perfectly suited to take on the Americas on behalf of Tiara Air.

Educated in Mexico, Santo Domingo and at Cornell University, USA, Granadillo is bringing a wealth of talents to add to Tiara Air’s already spectacular business intelligence and professional expertise.

The Asociación de Líneas Aéreas de Venezuela had recently asked Tiara Air to join its ranks and become a member of the prestigious association.

The regional Antillean carrier based in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao responded with great enthusiasm and this week a delegation of Tiara Air met with the ALAV officials in Venezuela to ink the agreement.

Managing Director Alejandro Muyale and affiliated executives Raymond Maduro and Mark Hoveling flew over to meet with ALAV Executive President Humberto Figuera and Board Member Jorge Andrade, and conducted fruitful and informative talks.

ALAV, an international organization, has been serving Venezuela and its skyways since 1959. “With thirty-one international member airlines including Lufthansa, Alitalia and American Airlines, Tiara Air is certainly in good company,” remarks Maduro.

“We are excited about the promising partnership with ALAV,” states Muyale, “it opens great possibilities for Tiara Air to get even further into the Venezuelan market and into South America in general.”