The Bonaire Reporter today says Delta is considering this flight. I've sent an email to customer service encouraging it; everyone in the midwest would directly benefit. Not sure how time would work for other areas of the country, though. We used to do this flight with ALM and Delta was their gate agent. Come on everyone, put in you vote with Delta and let's get them flying there!

Judy,
Will you give us more info on the "where" we are to send this email.

This would be GREAT!! We could fly Orlando to Atlanta to Bonaire.... We will send an Email encouraging this also!

Yana, Just got the Delta website and clicked on "Contact Us". It's at the top right corner of the page. They send you into an email form where you can pick your subject and I wrote it in the "Other" category. Thanks for your vote!

Personally, I don't see this as a plus for the reefs of Bonaire. More and more direct flights is going to change the nature of the island too much for my blood.

Marcus, We've been going to Bonaire since 1986. To get there has been easy and difficult over that time-frame. Direct or not, we're still going and so are many others from our area. True, it may be easier for new people to experience Bonaire, but, we were all new to the reefs once.

With the new AI Divi slated for next year expect more airlift..piggy back it with the 5000+ tourists coming during cruise ship season and wow..

As a travel agent I fully support additional airlift. Cruise ship chaos, phooey.

Marcus, probably not... but definitely a plus for me, and frankly, isn't that all that matters? lol

Well, yeah, if it's a plus for Kelly, then, yeah, definately I'm all for it!

Judy:

As a west coast guy, when was it ever easy to get to Bonaire? (The ALM days with their one direct flight a week from MIA. Maybe. Or maybe it juts ends in Curacao. Or makes a stop in Haiti to just pick a few folks up. Or...)

Now is way better than ever before.

Judy:

As a west coast guy, when was it ever easy to get to Bonaire? (The ALM days with their one direct flight a week from MIA. Maybe. Or maybe it just ends in Curacao. Or makes a stop in Haiti to just pick a few folks up. Or...)

Now is way better than ever before.

Marcus... hee hee... I knew I would bring you around to my way of thinking.

While we are at it - how about Charlotte, NC to Bonaire on US Air?

Bob,
I second you!

I third the Charlotte thing too or BWI. April 07 trip was uneventful. July 07 trip was eventful and it just hit me that getting to BON REALLY is 1/2 the fun...NOT.

It seems it's getting harder and harder to get there in one day from the east coast even! Our week in July we were delayed and had to do red eye from NJ; sucked! I found out we weren't the only ones bummed and shafted as there were quite a few others behind us that were in same situation just different carriers! Pfffft on that. So bring on the direct flights!!!!

Kobi

After seeing the message re:Atlanta-Bonaire via Delta, I sent an email to Delta lobbying for that flight. Got an email from Delta indicating that pending government approval they will start flying Atlanta-Curacao on Dec. 22,07......

That's great news, lets hope that whatever gov't is pending gets it together..............

Hi Everyone!

Delta as of today doesn't go to Curacao except in "high season"! Tried to use some f f miles when I found this out. How often would they go to Bonaire!

I just question if this will ever come to fruition?

I've looked at the schedules from the left coast and if you don't do a red eye you might need to layover!

I emailed Delta also, everybody ask ten friends to also email Delta we can get a chain going on, after a while somebody may pay attention to it. we miss ALM going direct from Atlanta the good old days, and even better when AJ went to Bonaire twice a week so we could stay a couple of extra days, never can take two weeks off at a time

Wow,that would be awesome...it would defiantly make it easier for us to come to bonaire. Think we would come more often... bonaire folks should also write to Delta about this....thanks for the info...scott

Being from the northeast, we have that flight out of Newark. Houston has the flight which gets in at 6:00 AM. The Newark flight gets in at 4:15 AM. They both also leave very early in the morning. AJ is AJ. What else can I say? Personally, I would welcome flights out of Atlanta, as it is so easy to get to Atlanta being a major hub. I shall email Delta right now. I also love their departure time. However, both their arrival and departure will be pretty much the same times as AJ, which could cause some confusion at Flamingo.

Either Atlanta or Charlotte would ROCK!!! I'm closer to Charlotte BUT my friends are in Atlanta.

All that I can say is that our flight from Houston to Bonaire in July was packed. While the red eye flight was less than ideal, it beat the American flight through San Juan. If Delta wants to use the Atlanta hub for a once a week flight without a midnight departure, they will OWN the flights to Bonaire.

American proved that you can fly to Bonaire and make money, Continental has proved that connecting through San Juan sucked. If Delta can provide a reasonable departure time from Atlanta, each flight will be full.

Let's just face it, Atlanta is the largest hub (passenger volume) in the world. American tourists are used to connect thru it, or at least deal with a single connection.
Bonaire has been fairly unreachable for the many american dive tourists.
Worried about the incremental numbers? I wouldn't, the american tourist chooses Bonaire as a diving destinations, that's it's strength. For other sun related destinations there are other destinations to choose from. This means for Bonaire that you get the "quiet" type tourist, yet willing to spend. I don't think one can say the same about our European friend ;-), no punch intended I was born there, but it's simply a different type of tourist. A Delta/Atlanta hub is a win win for the tourist and the dive/tourist industry in Bonaire.

This is a huge enabler and boost for the economy and a big step forward if this opportunity can be secured!

Gerben:

As a west coaster (I know that we are still the minority in the USA), Atlanta is not a huge help. I would still have either a red eye leaving SEA, overnighting in the hub city or a red eye from the hub to Bonaire.

Right now, I can leave SEA around midnight and go on AA. Or I can leave SEA around lunch and fly CO (with the last leg being a red eye from either NYC or IAH).

Now if we were talking LAX or SEA or PDX or Vegas...

And, I do think tons of air traffic will change the place. Yes, Bonaire is unlikely to become anything like Aruba. But I fondly recall Cozumel in the early days...a place that really no longer exists in some respects.

Good for hotels & restaurants? Yep. That said, I would rather suffer the flights than see the place over developed.

David
I think the ideal situation would be a later departure time from Atlanta to Bonaire, say 4 Pm, that way we could leave the left coast at a reasonable time in the morning---just wishful thinking!!

Delta from ATL would definitly be a plus... from CLT even better! After AJ stuck our group with a 5 hour layover in CUR coming and going in '05, I am not too eager to fly with them again. But one way or another, I have to get back to Bonaire. It's been too long.

Before we get all excited about this and I wrote Delta about flight and this is the response that I got.
Dear Mrs. Hughes,

Thank you for contacting Delta Air Lines.

Our information indicates we do not have any plans at this time to fly
to Bonaire, Netherland Antilles. We are Greatful you took your time to
inform us of this information for future plans. Please let us know if
you have any further concerns.

We appreciate your interest in Delta Air Lines.

Sincerely,

Jack Freidman
Online Customer Support Desk
http://www.delta.com

Funny, the email I got from Delta started Dear Ms. Bonaire.......guess it all depends on who responds : )

Hi, here's the latest news: http://www.bonaireinsider.com/index.php/bonaireinsider/delta_airlines_considering_non_stop_flights_to_bonaire_from_atlanta/

Hi Susan! Was great meeting you in person this past trip! Thanks for the update, appreciate it.

If it leaves early AM it makes it nearly impossible for many to avoid an overnight on the outbound. From BOS the only non stop I can see gets in at 8:55. If the plane leaves at 9:30 no way can that work...it's AA for me still....awell..

We fly from ATL every year and would certainly welcome Delta non-stop. We also stay overnight in one of the many motels that offer parking for up to 2 weeks if you stay. The shuttle to the airport and return is very convenient.

Yesterday I spoke with a friend a retired Delta executive and he assured me that this non-stop will be established. However, he said it would probably be early Spring 2008 before it flies. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

I think Delta would tinker with the schedules to make it work from Boston since it is a major focus city for the airline. As long as you have 45 min you should be allright in Atlanta.

I bet they have seen numbers for travelers from Boston to Bonaire. When I went last September, the majority of our San Juan to Bonaire flight on AE originated in Boston.