In the Dutch press and Antillean press there was some information today that the local company BonairExpress is encountering problems, and they are thinking of suspending all flights out of Bonaire by tomorrow. Can someone on the island confirm these information I'm receiving over here

I heard the same AFTER I bought a ticket this AM to go to Aruba tomorrow. I called Bonaire Exel and was told all is a go tomorrow. I have to be sure as I need to come home TOMORROW NIGHT..EGADS..

Does Divi fly the Aruba route yet?? How would I get home if BE folds tomorrow again??

Say it isn't so!!!! I just booked my son and a friend, they are suppose to connect in Aruba tomorrow! Oh no!

Liz

OMG Sakes!!! This is very, very, disturbing news!
I hope this is just a very bad rumor. Don't know if I could take another airline that goes to Bonaire with problems too! I think we all should form an airline from BT and we all could take turns working on the island transporting people to and from the abc islands. Of course, I do like to dream a lot I'm told.

It seems like Air Exel based in Holland has put a claim on Dutch Eagle Express bank accounts, the Extra had two articles today stating that this is a serious situation and it can be that all of the island of the Netherlands Antilles could be without any air connection by the end of the week. The only alternative on the Bonaire Curaçao route would be Divi Divi

This just gets worse. I booked on the old Bonaire Exel months ago for flights to Bonaire from Aruba on May 1 , returning on May 27 , and paid by credit card. The airline has changed names and now may not be in service. I can recoup through the credit card but that is little help if I end up stuck in Aruba. Please keep me informed about the status of Exel/Express/Whatever. Rant off.

We are supposed to fly there on 4/7 returning on 4/16. Up in the air, no pun intended, now. 5 of us meeting in MIA and connecting through Curacao. What to do what to do???

DiviDivi from Curacao...couldn't be easier!

Ive been reading all the posts in this section and in a few others...plus on some other boards about how difficult it is to get to bonaire. I went a few months ago and it was no fun transportation wise.

What I dont understand is how an island...country....who's bread and butter is diving would allow this to happen. I loved bonaire but it has slid down my list of places to go considering all the hassles in getting there and getting back home.....if you are that lucky....not to mention luggage lost.

Maybe I am just a little too simple....but I would try to get an airline in there that worked and understood customer service.

Just my little rant.....never mind.

Rich,

The Bonairian airspace is controlled by the Curaçao airport. Also Curaçao is in control of many things. I think the Bonaire government is willing to get a direct flight from the States, but they have to ask Curaçao, and that might be a problem. Just my 2 cents.

Martin
(who is lucky having a non-stop 9 hrs flight directly from Amsterdam to Bonaire once or twice a day... )

I am waiting to hear anything about Excel Air/Dutch Eagle. I am booked on a 10:00pm flight from Aruba to Bonaire on Saturday April 2.Kelly

Seems like BonairExpress will keep on flying, the claim put in by AirExel of 3 Million Euro's has been denied by a local judge in Curaçao yesterday. AirExel based in Holland itself is currently in a chapter 11 face and may not fly no more, they are trying to restart their operations in April. Let's hope that this marks the end of an ongoing fight between the Exel Aviaton Group and the Dutch Eagle Express Group

OK, from todays Bonaire reporter:

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quote:

Bonaire is to have a new airline servicing both the US and Europe, with an operational start planned for January 1, 2006. On the very spot where Bonaire’s first airstrip was built some 70 years ago, on the road to Rincon, Dutch air tycoon Erik Aviator, former partner of Bonaire businessman Nick Sandcastle, revealed his plans for a new airline, dubbed Bonaire Historic Airways (BHA). “The trend toward ever faster and cheaper air travel is about to reverse itself,” declares Erik, “same as happened with transatlantic ocean liners which now ply the leisure cruise trade.” BHA will employ small, lavishly fitted aircraft, probably Fokker 50s or 70s, seating 12 in grand luxury, using Bonaire and the Dutch island of Texel as home bases. The whole trip will take three days, with stops at St. Maarten, Hilton Head Island, Bermuda, the Azores, Madeira, Jersey (Channel Islands) and then Texel, all islands, and the same route back. The price will be around US$4,500 one way, return by commercial airliner. “We have already dozens of advance bookings,” says Erik. “We plan to build our own modest airstrip and accommodations on Klein Bonaire and have requested permission from the Island Government, as this project will greatly enhance the tourist attraction of Bonaire without harming the pristine beauty and delicate ecological balance of Klein Bonaire. We hope to have the permits for a 1 km. strip and one-story high control tower by mid June.” This coming Easter Friday Erik Aviator and his local partners plan to show the actual location of the strip on Klein Bonaire to any interested outsiders. Meeting place is the shacks on the east shore of Klein, meeting time is 10 am. Bring your own boat and refreshments. C.dK.

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This is an outrage!!!! Next they will want to put a 36 hole golf course on Klein and call Las Klein.. What will all the turtles do???? OMG the poor baby turtles......

Martin, Is that a joke? I thought Klein had been saved from development.

I don't get it. I thought the agreement made in 1999 made Klein a part of the park system thereby protecting it from development. Am I wrong?

Why even go to Bonaire when they have such great destinations as Hilton Head. LOL

Marcus, I am calling a friend on Bonaire who was active in the drive to raise money to preserve Klein.

Tom: Great. Looking forward to hearing what you find out.

Umm. That was the April Fools issue of the Bonaire Reporter.

Easter Friday...April 1st...April Fools Day!

April Fools Day is well known in the States. Is it popular as well in Europe. I assume that is where it originated.

Google is a wonderful thing...

April Fool's Day is one of the most light hearted days of the year, yet it stems from a serious subject—the adoption of a new calendar.


A Traditional New Year's


Ancient cultures, including those as varied as the Romans and the Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. Many countries, however, resisted the change. In fact, some European countries held out for centuries (Scotland until 1660; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700; and England until 1752).


Many French Refuse


In 1564 France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year's day to Jan. 1. However, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day April 1.

Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false.


April Fish


The French came to call April 1 Poisson d'Avril, or "April Fish." French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d'Avril" when the prank is discovered.


Great Britain Accepts the Calendar


In 1752, Great Britain finally changed over to the Gregorian Calendar, and April Fool's Day began to be celebrated in England and in the American colonies.

Pranks and jokes are of course still popular on this day—not to mention the rest of the year.

BE left on time at 7 AM and I got to Aruba on time..left on time and home on time..flawless..

Ann, is that an April Fool's post? or did it really go flawless...LOL...

I'd like to see a picture of the landing strip on Klein...oh, and I'm with Jim..Hilton Head? It would be great to have touchdowns in all those places going to Bonaire...gee...it might just add another 12 hours or so for me when I go!

Martin...9 hours straight with no stops...you are just a bad bad bad boy...rub it in dude...rub it in...

Cynde, it was great...I kid u not..I am not an April Fools prankster ...and it's too early..haa...

Folks, I have to admit that my first post after Martin made his March 30, 2005 - 4:47 pm post was real. That little devil got me early.

Martin, I am going to send you the bill for the 22 minute long distance call to my buddy Bart. It could have been much shorter, hence much less expensive had he stopped laughing.

OK Tom, I'll send you a bill for the fact that I had to clean the bounced mails from you, so I think we are even...

Okay Martin, it is a deal:-{)}

:D