| Aruba's first experience with aviation Aruba's first experience with the aviation world was on July 24, 1925. Back then, the first Hydro-aircraft IDOR landed in the Paardenbaai harbor of Oranjestad, Aruba. The former Lt. Governor Mr. H.E.G. Wagemaker of Aruba presented the first plans for the construction of an airport for the island in 1933. The area designated for this project was the area at the south coast named Dakota (Wayaca). The landing of the first tri-engine Fokker aircraft SNIP occurred on December 23, 1934 at Savaneta. First Scheduled Flight Between Aruba and Curaçao the first scheduled flight was performed on January 19, 1935. In this same year 2659 passengers were transported between the two islands. In 1937 an Air-traffic Radio Station was founded and at the same time this would be the first passenger handling building on the island. From 1935 up to 1940 Aruba was connected internationally by air travel with Barbados, Trinidad, Maracaibo, Paramaribo, Miami, La Guaira (Maiquetia) and Lisbon. World War II Because of the World War Two during 1942, the US Air force established a base in Aruba. In this same year construction started for a new terminal building at the south side of the runway. The second terminal building was inaugurated finally in 1950. Two years later in 1952 the first fire trucks were stationed at the airport. On October 22, 1955 the airport, Dakota Airport, was renamed after Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands. The opening ceremony was effected by H.R.H. Prince Bernard. Furthermore, during this same year the runway was extended and the old terminal building was changed into the Airport Fire Department garage. Turbo-Prop and Jets On February 27, 1957 the first Turbo-Prop Aircraft landed in Aruba. Therefore, in 1959 preparations started for the extension of the runway to accommodate Jet Aircraft types. On April 10, 1964 the runway was extended for these aircraft. Consequently the first two Jet landings in Aruba were, JETCLIPPER Aruba of the Pan American Airways and the HENRY DUNANT of KLM. A year later in 1965 the ground breaking for the construction of the third terminal building took place. The present terminal building was inaugurated in 1972. Renovation Project (Beatrix 2000) The project of expanding Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix was given the name "Beatrix 2OOO". The entire time span of this expansion was approximately 3 years. Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix has been turned into a modern and passenger friendly airport. The expansion entailed the construction of 2 completely new terminal buildings for departure and hold room areas and the renovation of the existing terminal building for arrivals. The expansion consists of two new buildings. The first building is the international building (NON US Bound). This building contains 24 ticket counters, airline offices, an outbound baggage area and a make up area behind the airline offices. This building is used by international bound passengers or in other words, non-US bound passengers. The second building is meant for US bound passengers. This building includes 42 ticket counters, airline offices and USFDA, US Immigration and US Customs facilities. Because of these facilities passengers flying to the US will be taking a domestic flight into the US. In total the new Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Bextrix consists of three floors. The ground floor with all the check-in facilities for US bound and non-US bound passengers and a walkway to the concession area situated also on the ground floor. The arrival hall/baggage claim area is located in the center of the building on the ground floor. The first floor consists of the hold rooms for US-bound and non-US bound passengers and the Aruban immigration which arriving passengers pass before entering the arrival hall. This floor is provided with corridors with glass walls for the arriving passengers. They then go on to the third floor and down again to the second floor by escalator or elevator to go through the Aruban Immigration on the first floor, then through Customs. Thus, the arriving and departing passengers do not intermingle during their flow through the airport. This ensures the safety of our passengers and ensures a continuous passenger flow. |
1935  1940  1942  1955  1960  1972   2000  2005  |