Bonaire Flamingo Airport just announced last week that they're going to be closing at 6pm daily, until KLM arrives at 4am, starting Feb 13. It is my understanding that once KLM arrives, the airport will remain open until 6pm. This in order to work on the runway/tarmac. No ending date announced (that I know of). I'm not sure how much notice the airlines were given, and I don't know how this is affecting the Saturday MIA/BON non-stop on Insel, nor the KLM flights that arrive at 7:30pm a few times a week. All the local flights after 6pm (DAE & Insel) have been cancelled for now. I do not know if there will be adjustments to this construction schedule, or if there will be different closing hours on holidays or weekends.

Mom was right.
It's not easy getting to Paradise.
Now it's a little bit harder.

This makes it difficult even just to get to/from Curacao for the day (where most of our specialist doctors are)...usually I take an evening flight back to make sure I have enough time during the day for appointments. Ugh, until further notice. :-(

good grief...now what should we do for a March 8 arrival .. are scheduled for the 7PM Insel flight to Bonaire from Curacao..think we should sit tight and hope that the construction will be finished ?
hav'nt heard anything from Insel

according to the announcement in the papiamentu newspaper the EXTRA- the airport closings are planned for 4 to 5 months with the current schedule in effect from February 13th -27 March.
Sundays closed from 6PM - 6 AM
Monday and Wednesday 6PM - 4AM
Tuesday and Wednesday closed 7:45PM -5:45AM
Fridays and Saturdays no closing.

Ah, thanks Pietri--those are the details I didn't get.

To anyone on a CUR/BON flight originally scheduled for one of these cancelled times, call the airline, and plan on spending the night in CUR, or getting the earlier AA. I would not wait for DAE or Insel to contact me--their default thinking is that you're local (someone living on BON or CUR, so in the know), not making an international connection.

Noticed a mistake--Pietrie, is this what you meant (Tue & Thur, not Tue & Wed)?:

BON closings, from February 13th -27 March:
Sundays closed from 6PM - 6 AM
Monday and Wednesday 6PM - 4AM
Tuesday and Thursday closed 7:45PM -5:45AM
Fridays and Saturdays no closing.

yes dear .. my mistake ... thanx

just made a call to Insel...they have no information on this announcement...sure hope they put a 6 or 7PM flight in...hate to waste a day of my dive vacation in Curacao overnight

Just spoke with Insel air again today..and they say they have no information on this project and that the airport must stay open ...even if it is a portion of the airstrip for landing....so I will keep checking in on this topic and hope for the best...as again our flight would arrive on a tuesday leaving Curacao at7:45 arrive Bonaire Flamingo airport 8:10 PM l

Debbi, sounds like Insel has their head in the sand. It was headline news January 22 (Runway of Flamingo Airport to close nights/to allow renovation): http://www.extrabon.com/edishon/extra2011-01-22.pdf The article specifically states that the evening flights of DAE & Insel must adapt to the construction schedule. Call them back after Feb 13, when the work begins.

See this thread from Local Items: http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/36/441053.html?1296657097

thank you Ruth for your insight and heads up on this matter...could you please keep us up to date on the construction?....have an email into the Insel customer service and awaiting their reply...weird they had no notice of this development again today....maybe the small planes will beable to land but not the larger ones ? hmmmmmm
anyway thanks again for your help...let me buy you a drink when we get on island...

Nooooo....no planes will be able to land during the closing times no matter their size--if I were you, I'd go ahead and book either an earlier flight the same day, or one the next morning. Insel's own site shows 17:00 (5pm) to be the last CUR/BON flight on March 8. Easy Air has the last CUR/BON flight of the day at 5:30pm. That's it-plan now while there's hopefully still space.

I'll take a Polar please?
;-)

I know there's not enuff time to make the 5 o'clock flight as we get in on AA from Miami at 4....already paid for tickets on Insel...maybe they will start a 6: flight...I'll wait and see if we get an email back from them tomorrow
Polar it is..I will email you directly before we arrive for a " happy hour " meet...untill then

I called Insel air yesterday and was told they hadn't figured out a new schedule and that they would call me when they did.
I'm hoping to be able to cancel the tickets if they change days on my flight as I can do better by flying to Curacao via American.
Really didn't want to overnight in Curacao but if I have to anyway, I'd rather not fly from Miami on Insel.

So far, it looks like Easy Air has the last flight of the day at 5:30pm. It's a small plane, with only 8 seats...the same 8 seats all the daily business and medical travelers will be looking at. I'm putting this out there as additional information for your consideration.

Anyone know why Bonaire isn't an option on the DAE website?

It's under "Netherlands" now.

Looks like DAE has kept their 7pm CUR/BON flight, AND, Insel has put a flight at 6:15pm--on Tuesdays & Thursdays, when the Bonaire airport is staying open till 7:45pm. Hope that's good news for someone!

(Message edited by ruth on February 5, 2011)

just what I was hoping for ! yea!!!!! now we can still get to Bonaire on the same day and not lose a day of diving....thanks for the update and Ruth..I still owe ya a Polar

All y'all owe me is to get here safe & sound, (but a Polar will never be refused).

Just make sure they really did put you on that 6:15 flight.

Thanks for the clarification Ruth.

I called Insel air today and was put on a flight at 7:45 the next day after we arrive in Curacao. Booo.

Rand, why not try to get on the 7pm DAE (if your flight's on a Tue or Thur)? Even if you can't get a refund from Insel, flying on DAE might be cheaper than a hotel in CUR...

Because of course we arrive on Wednesday... :-(
We're going to try staying at Apartamentu Holanda. It's only 10 minutes from the airport and not too pricey. Thanks for the input though.

I called Divi Divi today and was told that none of their flights would be affected by the night closings.

No, that's because Divi Divi and Easy Air have only daytime flights. Divi's last from CUR is at 5pm (it returns to CUR by 5:45pm), Easy's last is at 5:30pm (this plane stays on BON overnight).

Boy..it sure is still confused state over at Insel...several phone calls and I get different story each time...right now sounds like they are trying to use one larger plane to make three flights into one on that Tuesday i need to get to Bonaire..the rep said they will call or email when they know what is happening....or I could have a full refund and try other airline...so I will again try to be patient...I just wanna go diving ! waaaaaa!

Wow...they're offering a full refund? DAE has a flight at 7pm...

I don't see it posted here (maybe another thread?) but this closing schedule does not end March 27 as originally posted. It was updated. The closings at night continue through July. Local times as follows:

Sunday 5 pm to 3 am
Monday 5 pm to 3 am
Tuesday 7:45 pm to 5:45 am
Wednesday 5 pm to 3 am
Thursday 8:45 pm to 6:45 am

Friday and Saturday nights no closings.

Details here (be sure to download the two page pdf if you need it.)

Runway Renovation

looks like Insel has us on a 6:15 flight inserted into schedule to accomodate the cancel of the 7:45 from Curacao...so we are happy and will still arrive in Bonaire on same day scheduled....we hope...5 degrees here and MORE snow tonight ...can't wait to haev that warm wind hit my face as we get off the plane....coundting the days...12 to be exact !