Air Aruba

Air Aruba began in September 1986 as a ground handling agent for most airlines in Aruba. Two years after being founded, on August 18 to be exact, Air Aruba (with the help of KLM & later Air Holland) carried out its first commercial flight with YS-11 turbo-prop type aircraft operating between the "ABC" islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao as well as Caracas, Venezuela. Over the years Air Aruba expanded its schedule to various destinations in the Caribbean (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and St. Maarten), North America (Newark, Miami) and South America (São Paulo, Maracaibo, Las Piedras). Air Aruba also started flying across the Atlantic to Amsterdam and Cologne. This flight was initially operated in conjunction with Air Holland but was later assumed completely by Air Aruba. Subsequently, the fleet was also upgraded, shifting more from turbo-prop type aircraft to jet type aircraft, including the Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767. On the ground Air Aruba also kept developing, forming a new ground handling company as a subsidiary in joint ownership with Ogden Aviation Services. Air Aruba also expanding its reservations office in North America coping with the demand. Air Aruba had a committed staff with a reputation for excellence, hospitality, and service. Air Aruba took great pride in the quality of customer service on its flights.

An Air Aruba YS-11

Carrying on the tradition of the Aruban people, Air Aruba strove to bring the friendliness of Aruba to the airline industry, however financial problems made the Government of Aruba seek for a new owner for the airline. On October 27, 1998, Air Aruba N.V. secured a takeover by the Venezuelan airline Aserca, which became the majority owner of Air Aruba. In December 1998, Air Aruba leased two brand new MD-90s expanding the total fleet to 5 aircraft. At the same time, Air Aruba also inaugurated a route to Philadelphia and re-opened a route to Baltimore making the total number of destinations to 10. In the competitive airline industry, it is important to have stable partnerships with other respected international airlines. Air Aruba had done so by developing fruitful partnerships with, among others, Continental Airlines and K.L.M.. In March 1999, Air Aruba had established a far going agreement with Aserca Airlines and Air ALM to provide a better service in the Caribbean and South America for both its customers and its employees. The rising cost of operations and management caused Air Aruba to file bankruptcy in 2000. Air Aruba suspended its operations as of October 23, 2000.[2]

A McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 of Air Aruba

Air Aruba's YS-11 turboprop aircraft were the first acquired airplanes to be introduced into their fleet. After some time, Air Aruba initially replaced the YS-11 with Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia regional turboprop aircraft. Later on, they acquired a Boeing 757-200 (to fly to Miami). Furthermore, the fleet size expanded by introducing the Boeing 727-100, 737-300, 767-200 and 767-300 with the latter aircraft type operating flights to Europe as well as some U.S. routes. In the last operating years of Air Aruba, only the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, MD-88 and MD-90 were operated by Air Aruba before the airline closed its doors.

An Air Aruba Boeing 757 leased from Air Holland

Air Aruba's fleet consisted of the following aircraft:

• 3 NAMC YS-11A/213
• 2 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia
• 1 Boeing 727-100
• 2 Boeing 737-3M8
• 2 Boeing 757-23A
• 3 Boeing 767-204ER
• 1 Boeing 767-310ER
• 2 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30
• 3 McDonnell Douglas MD-83
• 2 McDonnell Douglas MD-88
• 3 McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air Aruba.

• Air Aruba (Archive)
• Air Aruba former jet fleet detail