Source: Aruba Airport
Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) is proud to announce that it has been named the winner of the Routes Americas 2025 Award in the Under 4 million Passenger Category, reinforcing AAA’s commitment to air service development, airline partnerships, and connectivity expansion.
Recognizing Excellence in Airline Marketing
The Routes Americas 2025 Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in airport and destination marketing, honoring airports, destinations, and airlines that have demonstrated exceptional success in route development and network growth. This award is particularly significant as winners are chosen by the airlines themselves, making it one of the most prestigious accolades in the aviation industry.
This year, 15 airports, five destinations, and five airlines were selected as finalists across various categories. A total of six awards were presented, including three for excellence in airport route development marketing, categorized by passenger volume:
- Under 4 million Passengers
- 4-20 million Passengers
- Over 20 million Passengers
Judged by Industry Experts
Aruba Airport’s achievement was determined by a distinguished panel of airline professionals, including:
- American Airlines – Jason Reisinger, Managing Director, Global Network
- Avianca – Julian Andres Gelvez Hinestroza, Director, Network Planning
- Sun Country Airlines – Joe Beckendorf, Senior Director, Network Planning and Charters
- Avelo – Michael Corcoran, Director, Network Planning
- Bahamasair – Leroy Ferguson, Scheduling Manager
- WestJet – Rick Jones, Interim Director, Route Planning
- Volaris – Eric Friedman, Director, Network Planning and Strategy
A Proven Track Record of Excellence
Aruba Airport was honored to compete in the Under 4 million Passenger Category alongside Curaçao International Airport, Halifax International Airport (Canada), Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport (Canada), and Syracuse Hancock International Airport (U.S.).
This marks Aruba Airport’s sixth win in this category, having previously secured the award in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2020. This prestigious recognition highlights Aruba Airport’s innovative marketing strategies, impactful local campaigns, strong airline partnerships, and commitment to expanding connectivity.
Aruba Airport: A Regional Leader in Air Connectivity
As the Gateway to Happiness, Aruba Airport continues to experience record-breaking passenger traffic. In 2024, the airport processed over 3 million passengers, representing a 14% increase in revenue-generating passengers compared to the previous year.
With a highly connected network of 25 airlines providing non-stop services to over 45 destinations across 31 unique cities, Aruba Airport remains the premier destination airport in the Caribbean. Additionally, the airport recorded a 15% increase in seat capacity, adding 263,000 seats year over year, further strengthening Aruba’s connectivity and meeting the growing demand for travel.
In 2024, Aruba Airport proudly welcomed two new airlines, LATAM Airlines and GOL, introduced three new routes, and saw a 16% increase in flights with key airline partners, including JetBlue (B6), Delta (DL), American Airlines (AA), Avianca (AV), and Copa Airlines (CM). These expansions have further enhanced point-to-point connections and improve long-haul reach.
A New Era of Business Development
In alignment with its growth strategy, Aruba Airport has restructured its Air Service Development department into the Aviation Business Development department. This transformation enhances resources and capabilities, with a strong focus on customer relationship management and innovative local marketing campaigns.
A special acknowledgment goes to Mary Joan Wardlaw, Customer Relationship Officer, whose contributions have been instrumental in supporting Aruba Airport’s airline partners at the local level.
“With the success of 2024 and the projected growth for 2025, we are confident that this marks a new era in business development. We remain committed to fostering airline partnerships, driving innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth,” said Jo-Anne Arends, Aviation Business Development Executive at Aruba Airport.
Our dedicated team continues to enhance air service, provide seamless travel experiences, and contribute to Aruba’s economic growth.
Barbara Brown, Chief Revenue Development & Communications Officer, added:
“I am extremely proud of our team at Aruba Airport. This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and strategic vision that drive our success. It not only highlights our achievements but also underscores our long-term commitment to operational excellence, customer experience, and sustainable growth.”