Aruba Airport proudly participated in the 17th edition of the Routes Americas
2024 conference, an essential networking event in the Americas aviation industry. Held from
March 19 through 22 in Bogota, Colombia, this conference brought together key stakeholders
from across the Americas region, fostering invaluable connections and collaborations.
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 MeauxArends, 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.
About AUA Airport
AUA Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean region, with 26 different airlines
operating into Aruba contributing to processing over 2.8 million passengers per year and providing
air service to 31 cities and 45 non-stop destinations worldwide. AUA Airport’s markets served
comprise of 77% from the United States & Canada, 15% from Latin America, 4% from Europe,
and 4% from Dutch Caribbean, year to date, January 2024. AUA Airport atributes this to the
island’s stable economic and political climate, hospitable and multilingual population, and safe
environment. AUA Airport’s aspiration is to become one of the most Sustainable, Safe, and Future
Proof airports of the Latin America & Caribbean region, providing a trusted workplace, modern
airport facilities and excellent customer service which reflects Aruban hospitality, contributing to
a prosperous future for Aruba.
Learn more about what’s happening at AUA Airport by visiting www.airportaruba.com and
connect with AUA Airport on Twitter.com/Aruba_Airport, Facebook.com/ArubaAirport,
Instagram.com/arubaairport/ and Linkedin.com/ArubaAirport.
