We are planning Feb 2007 trip and flying into Curacao for the first time. If Air Jamaica should arrive late (I know, impossible, right?), I'm wondering what happens if we miss our reserved Divi flight. The planes are so small I can imagine the next one might be full, and I might be out of luck. Has anyone had experience with this. Thanks for any info, Diane

Diane,

You can also use DAE but they have more restrictive luggage weights. I would stay with DIVI verses DAE even if I had to wait a little longer for the next flight.

Diane,

I've read online that to all probability there will soon start a new commuter airline between the ABC Islands.
Their name is Insel Air, and they will be flying a 19 seat Embraer Bandeirante.
If you go to this link (copy and paste it in your browser): http://www1.airpics.com/showimg.php?imgid=98531

you should be able to get a picture of their Aircraft which already arrived on Curacao. I guess the are waiting for their paperwork to be finished at the local Authorities.As from what local papers were telling, they should start very soon(in one month or so)
They promised lower prices ,so there will be soon more competition with the other airlines currently flying between the ABC islands.

So you might wait a little bit more before you book........

(I've lived both in Aruba as in Curacao a few years ago,still have some friends down there, and i used to fly the embraer 110 alot back and forth, with the former Avia Air Airline. Nice Aircraft and cheap to operate, so i guess we sure can expect less expensive ticktes between the ABC Islands soon.

regards,
Ronny

There are for the last 3 years several inter-island airlines starting. Why do you think Insel Air can start in 1 month ?????
Very soon can mean anything here ......

The advice I was given was to make reservations for the "next" flight after you get in on Divi Divi... ie: if you arrive at 2pm and there is a 3:30, make reservations for the 5pm so if you miss the 3:30 you still can get to Bon. If you get in early - you could still make the 3:30 since it doesn't book as far in advance as the 5pm.

Why not?
There plane is there....

What do you mean exactly by: ""There are for the last 3 years several inter-island airlines starting""

The last Airline that started was one from Aruba i guess, flying the Short360. They started up very fast (2 Months maybe) after the arrival of there first aircraft.

And as we know the more competion the cheaper the travel.

Well lets hope the best for you Folks down there!

What I mean is that there are least 4 (but I think that number is too low)applications for inter-island flights still waiting (for quite some time now) for approval. You can read very regularly in the local news papers about it.
One was approved as you mentioned, but that is only Aruba-Curacao . So question still open: Why do you think this Insel Air is needing just one more month ??? And is that one really for connections with Bonaire also or only Aruba-Curacao ???

Briggitte,

indeed there were alot of applications down there for several Airlines.Some of them got a economical licence to operate.
Still to start a airline operation, you need a AOC(Airline Operating Certificate) Licence.
None of these paperwork airlines you mentioned, even managed to get a aircraft to Curacao yet, beside Insel Air.
As you can see on the picture, Insel Air not only flew the aircaft in from Venezuela, but they also managed to de-register this aircraft to the antillean registration ""PJ""( - VIP).
Means these guys (if we compare them to all the other paper-airlines you mentioned) are working very hard to make this airline Operational and to get that AOC.
And they are almost there i Guess.....
Its not easy to get an airline in the Air. Alot of things that have to be done before your there, but this one looks good...
They have (realistic) future plans, which are within reach: a joint venture with another regional jet operator for there future jet operations, which is going to be the MD-80, a wellknown type down there. Alot of local pilots and maintenance people down there are licenced (with experience on this type).Also the Authorities already know this type, so paperwork is going to be a little less complicated i guess.

Hope having cleared your question...

Avia Air used to fly Embraer Bandeirantes between Aruba and Bonaire, but ceased to exist about 4 years ago. We flew with them in October 2002 when we had had reservations on the then-startup Royal Aruban Airlines. RAA never was able to get their permissions to fly between Aruba and Bonaire (even though they had two beautiful aircraft) and rebooked us on Avia. I thought I saw one of the former Avia Bandeirantes on the ground during our last trip through Aruba in late April, although it could have been someone else's.

The Bandeirante is a predecessor to the larger and more-comfortable Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, with a strange 2 and 1 seating on what looked and felt like school bus seats. Serviceable, but far from luxurious or even comfortable, but then if you don't have to stop in Curacao, it is only a 45 - 60 minute flighttime, gate-to-gate.

Mr Director,


Keep in mind that Aruba and Curacao have seperate Aviation authorities.
The story with RAA, goes deeper muchh muchhh deeper.
These guys were using dirty money (investor is jailed by this time) to start and run there operation. This same investor also had his "drug money" invested in Dutch airline Air Holland, which right now is the big issue in Holland.
In the Air Holland case , the authorities were aware of (drugstransports).
People up there are asking themselves at this moment how this could have been possible...
Also for RAA ,since the very start of RAA(paperwork-stages) there used to be local rumors about this airline and its investors.
Im very sorry for you if you had your tickets booked on this airline.....
Air Holland ended in bankruptcy, and the same thing happened to RAA I guess.
Keep in mind that a numerous amount of people back in Holland lost their money also because of Air Holland after they ceased operations...

Insel air has chosen for local investors. The right way..
Its not appropiate to compare these two airlines with each other.(Insel and RAA) Since its(your comparison) two very different situations .

And your right, the Embraer 110 is serviceable. It has already proven itself. I think people these days are rather looking for a cheap , safe(and reliable) way to get to the other Islands rather then paying alot of money for a very ""comforatble seat"". Hey its a 15 -25 minutes flight!!!!
Look and Divi Divi and their successful 9 seat islanders operation.You dont hear any comment about the seats.....
Anyway, I hope the best for Insel Air..and the other airlines based down there!!!
The more competition, the cheaper the tickets!!!

Brigitte,

as far as I know Insel Air got the Economical. LIC. ,from the current Transport Minister, to operate both ABC(Aruba Bonaire, Curacao) as Regional.
They also already have alliance (sighned) with a regional carrier.

Regards,
Ronny

Ronald,

Interesting story about RAA.

I was neither commenting nor complaining about RAA; rather I referenced it solely in how we got to fly Avia's Bandeirante between Aruba and Bonaire almost 4 years ago. In reality, RAA rebooked us both ways on Avia at no additional cost to us. They also advised us of the change a few weeks before the flights, so everything turned out well (although we did get to spend a few extra hours in Aruba because of the different departure times, but not any big deal).

Any info on why Avia stopped flying altogether?

I guess bad management (unfortunately) Dr Director.Alott of rumours about that..
Thats the main cause.........

Cause believe me there was a market down there for Avia,in their operating days.
Even with competition of Air ALM and Air Aruba!!!
These guys used to move tons of people between Aruba and Curacao, and also Aruba and Venezuela.

Dr director,

the Bandeirante you saw back in April, was probably, one of the former Avia Bandeirantes.
One of these birds went through its airframe hours and is parked somewhere on the (Aruba) Airport.
The other one should be parked in a hanger somewhere on the Aruba Airport I guess...
At least thats what I've heard....

Diane,

This thread has gone off-topic big-time.
I love flying Divi Divi and would recommend it highly. That is they way we always get to/from Bonaire.

Just make sure you are not afraid of flying in a small plane and somewhat cramped seats. If you want any more in-depth questions feel free to message me.

Note: Our 16 yr. old cat actually seemed to enjoy the flight as well.

Thanks, all.
It surely did go off topic, but certainly was interesting reading. No problem with small planes. Flew from SJ to Vieques many times, and our smallest was a 6 seater with a single prop in and out of Utila on a dirt runway. Certainly makes you honest about your weight. Will book AJ into Curacao, and plan on Divi when they will take a reservation. Presently they say it is too soon. Thanks again. D

Hey Brigitte,
"""There are for the last 3 years several inter-island airlines starting. Why do you think Insel Air can start in 1 month ?????
Very soon can mean anything here ......"""

You were a liiiiiiiiiiiittle bit Pessimistic about your neighbour island of curacao weren't you??? Told you these Insel Air guys were very serious about their airline!!