Editing Transport in Aruba (section)

== Air transport ==
[[File:Boeing 757-223, American Airlines AN1043834.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Queen Beatrix International Airport with planes at the terminals, [[American Airlines]] taking off (''2006'')]]
Travelers have the option to take short plane flights from [[Queen Beatrix International Airport]]. The major local airlines, [[Divi Divi Air]] and [[EZ AIR|EZ Air]], operate multiple daily flights between Aruba, [[Curaçao]], and [[Bonaire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flight Schedule: Curacao to Aruba |url=https://www.flydivi.com/Flight_Schedule/CuracaoToAruba |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.flydivi.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Destinations |url=https://www.flyezair.com/travel-info/destinations/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=EZAir |language=en}}</ref> However, flying between the islands can be costly, and there have been persistent challenges. Since the 1970s, at least fifteen airlines, both local and from Europe, have made attempts in this regard. Local airlines, such as [[Air Aruba]], have faced financial issues, leading to bankruptcies over the years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Henriquez |first=8 mei 2019 {{!}} Sharina |last2=Leidel-Schenk |first2=Leoni |date=2019-05-08 |title=Veerdienst Aruba-Curaçao vertraagd: ‘Curaçao moet nog het geld vinden’ {{!}} Caribisch Netwerk |url=https://caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl/2019/05/08/veerdienst-aruba-curacao-vertraagd-curacao-moet-nog-het-geld-vinden/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>

The ''[[Antilliaanse Luchtvaart Maatschappij|Antilliaanse Luchtvaartmaatschappij]] (ALM),'' or Antillean Airline, held the skies for 37 years, marking its status as the longest-running airline in the region. As a government-owned entity, it enjoyed a monopoly over the islands. ALM's reach extended to 26 flight destinations, with the largest portion (five) in Venezuela. In 2001, circumstances compelled it to halt its operations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Henriquez |first=17 maart 2017 {{!}} Sharina |date=2017-03-17 |title=Vliegen op de eilanden geen duurzame business {{!}} Caribisch Netwerk |url=https://caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl/2017/03/17/vliegen-op-de-eilanden-geen-duurzame-business/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| image1            = Boeing 757-23A, Air Aruba JP18756.jpg
| image2            = Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-232 (P4-AAD) at Miami International Airport.jpg
| caption1          = [[Air Aruba]], former airline of Aruba (''1989'')
| caption2          = [[Aruba Airlines]], flag carrier of Aruba (''2016'')
| total_width       = 375
| align             = left
}}

Director Edwin Kelly of the ''Directie Luchtvaart Aruba'', or Aruba Aviation Directorate, highlights significant challenges: insufficient considerations of market changes. Kelly point out that the Venezuelan market was robust, as was the [[Cuba|Cuban]] market, but [[liberalization]] has halted the latter. These markets are temporary and subject to fluctuations. Hence, Kelly emphasizes the need for a long-term strategy, not only for airline establishment but also for long-term viability and sustainability. However, it is crucial for the government to protect the route and maintain the connection between the islands.<ref name=":1" />

Commercial and non-commercial total landings have seen a decline, dropping from 23,765 in 2015 to 11,294 in 2021. Notably, non-commercial landings have experienced the most significant decrease, falling from 6,219 to 986, in contrast to commercial landings, which decreased from 17,546 to 10,308.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-04 |title=Landings of {{sic|nolink=yes|aircrafts}} and revenues 2015-2021 – Central Bureau of Statistics |url=https://cbs.aw/wp/index.php/2020/06/04/landings-of-aircrafts-and-revenues-2015-2020/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>