16,000 Additional Seats to AUA

• AUA is satisfied about Winter Season 2016-2017 as the forecast shows that a total of 16,800 additional seats will be available to the island out of the North American region.
• Strong passenger demand continues as the Aruba Airport forecast shows a significant growth of 4% in total capacity by the North America carriers.
• American Airlines will restart as of September 1st, 2016 its 3rd daily service Aruba – Miami. This additional service not only caters the Miami region but mainly feeds secondary markets for example connecting the west region to Aruba.
• JetBlue will be adding 2 extra daily flights out of Boston and New York (JFK). Starting on October 31 through out April 1, 2017 the airline will offer an additional Saturday service out of Boston. The airline added an additional Thursday service out of New York as well starting January 4 – February 15, 2017. Both additional frequencies will be serviced by JetBlue’s newest A321 premium Mint experience aircraft.
• Delta Air Lines added significant capacity for the upcoming winter up – gauging to 140 additional weekly seats on the Atlanta – Aruba route by swapping aircrafts from B737-900 to B767- 400. The wide body aircraft will operate between December 17 and March 25, 2017 an overall 12% increase in Delta’s Aruba portfolio.
• United Airlines has made several network adjustments as well by adding a significant 12% capacity out of Newark which is a combination of additional weekly services and larger aircraft during peak days.

Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, Aruba International Airport

Although the added capacity is welcome from a non-rev perspective, the crowds seem to get bigger every year. The area up by Palm Beach has gotten very commercialized as well with the mall that opened up a few years ago. I usually go during the off season. Can't imagine what it must be like during the peak winter travel season!