Flights – Getting to and from the island

Curaçao flights – getting to and from the island

Whilst you can arrive at this idyllic island by private boat or on a cruise – most people will choose Curaçao flights to arrive on the island for their vacation. The three ABC islands of the Netherlands Antilles each have their own international airports that are served by local and international airlines. Scheduled direct flights to Curaçao from the USA are possible but, depending on where you’re flying from, you might find yourself having to fly into Aruba or even Bonaire first and then transfer to Curaçao. Unless you’re prepared to hire a private boat to transfer between islands you’ll have to make the 50 mile transfer by air. Although it only takes 30 minutes and there are at least 4 flights a day to and from both Aruba and Bonaire; the Curaçao flights are in small 40 seat twin-prop planes, giving a flying experience that’s somewhat different to the wide-body jet you used to get to the Caribbean! There did use to be ferry boats between the islands but these no longer operate; which is a pity in these days of trying to limit our Carbon footprints. Also, using a boat to transfer between the islands would have been a lot cheaper and more fun; not only giving you chance to acclimatize but also ‘slowing you down’ to a more respectable Caribbean pace.

Curaçao flights and airports

Although there’s a good selection of flights to Curaçao by Latin American and Caribbean airlines your options for a direct Curaçao flight from the USA or Europe are limited. Currently direct flights to Curaçao from Europe are entirely operated by KLM, the Royal Dutch airline, and will require you to fly via Amsterdam. From the USA you can book a Curaçao flight with American Airlines, Continental Airlines or Delta Airlines. However, you’ll probably need an internal US flight to arrive at an American airport offering you direct Curaçao flights to depart from. For American Airlines this means using Miami-Florida, Continental Airlines fly out from New Jersey-New York and Delta Airlines have offered limited flights to Curaçao from Atlanta, but now seem to prefer to fly only to Aruba and Bonaire. Curaçao flights land and take off from the Hato International Airport which is on the north side of the island about 5 miles from the capital – Willemstad. Although Hato is an international airport don’t expect anything the size of an American international airport. Hato is used to handling about 1 million arrivals and departures a year, compared to say LAX that copes with around 5 million a month. The Curaçao airport has just three restaurants and a few shops. Subsequently, if you are passing through this airport – have plenty of things to read and occupy your time as there are very few distractions in the airport whilst you’re waiting. Having said that the runway itself is the longest in the Caribbean at 3410 meters, so no worries if you intend arriving in your own private aeroplane. Chartered Curaçao flights can, of course, be accommodated at Hato International Airport.

Other nearby international Netherlands Antilles airports

As mentioned above both Aruba and Bonaire have airports capable of handling international flights. In fact Aruba, to the west of Curaçao, is the main tourist destination for the ABC islands; so not surprisingly it is the Reina Beatrix Aruba International Airport that actually has most international arrivals and departures. Currently Aruba bound flights from the USA are offered by: American Airlines from Miami and New York-JFK, Continental Airlines from Houston, Cleveland and New York-New Jersey and Delta Airlines from Atlanta. If you definitely want to transfer to Curaçao by air, not being able to get a direct Curaçao flight; Delta and Continental also fly to Bonaire International Airport from Atlanta and Houston respectively. I’d say Bonaire International Airport wins the battle of the ABC islands airport names – it’s called the Flamingo Airport Bonaire.

Curaçao