AAA news @ArubaAirport August 2018 www.airportaruba.com Purpose This newsletter serves to inform you on the most important and recent developments at Queen Beatrix International Airport. Aruba s 1 st Official Spotter s Day Plane spotting is a great way to learn about and enjoy the aviation industry and the aircraft and airlines that encompass it. For anyone who enjoys airplanes, plane spotting makes a great hobby. Aruba Airport hosted the 1 st ever Official Spotter s Day on Saturday, August 11 th, 2018 with a group of 10 active spotters. Read more about this one of a kind event in this edition of AAA News.
Minister Oduber visits Gateway 2030 construction site The Minister of Tourism, Public Health and Sports, Mr. Dangui Oduber accompanied by AAA CEO Mr. James Fazio visited the Gateway 2030 construction site at the airport for a tour of the latest developments of the project. Minister Oduber was shown the enabling works progress and received an explanation about the relocation and upgrading of the airport s main utilities electrical substation, chiller plant, water and fire suppression systems, airfield lighting controls, and the west apron project including additional aircraft parking position, new taxiway and preparation for the gates. As one of the largest public infrastructure projects ever undertaken, the increased investment activity will ultimately increase government tax receipts through the stimulation of economic growth and will create hundreds of jobs, which span the spectrum from low, medium and highly skilled employment. Everyone is committed to doing this project right, that is, a well-planned and properly supervised project with all transparency and planning necessary to make it successful.
Departure of Students to the Netherlands On Saturday August 4 th, the AAA team had the pleasure of hosting the students departing to the Netherlands. A group of 174 students were at the airport starting at 2PM to check-in and say their goodbyes to loved ones. While some were very emotional, but ready to embark on their new journey, the students were invited by AAA for a cocktail reception at Gate B while they waited for their flight to arrive. At the cocktail event, the Minister of Education, Mr. Rudy Lampe gave a speech to the students wishing them the very best. Restroom Cleaner of the Quarter Traveling passengers have the chance to rate the restroom cleanliness once they use the restrooms in the airport terminal. Every quarter, AAA selects the 1 st and 2 nd place Restroom Cleaners based on passenger experience and present them with a token of appreciation for their work. The 1 st place Restroom Cleaner for the 1 st quarter was Vitalia Romero.
Airport Marketing Campaign Aruba Airport recently launched its annual Relive Your Vacation Campaign. Traveling passengers who shop and dine at the airport can participate to win a fully paid vacation back to Aruba including their airfare ticket and stay. Passengers have to shop and/or dine at one of the concessions located at the airport spending $20 and above, fill out their coupons, drop these in the luggage boxes placed in the terminal, and voilà. The campaign ends on October 31 st, 2018 and the winner will be chosen by a drawing inside the terminal in the main concession area.
@ArubaAirport August 2018 www.airportaruba.com 1 st ever Official Spotter s Day Aruba Airport held the 1 st ever Official Spotter s Day on Saturday August 11 th, 2018. Many airports in the region are known for their spotting locations, but Aruba Airport wanted to go the extra mile for our spotters and invite them to be on the airport premises, right where all the action happens. After receiving 40 applications, a group of 10 spotters were invited to join the AAA team for a day on the airport s airside. The group was escorted to 7 different locations where they were able to take their photographs of the various aircraft landing and departing. After a successful spotting opportunity, the spotters now have 10 days to submit their top three photographs to the AAA PR & Social Media Team. All photographs will be placed on Aruba Airport s social media channels for a voting competition amongst the followers. The photograph with the most votes wins. The winning spotter will receive a dedicated EXPO located inside the airport s terminal for a year with his or her top 10 best aircraft photographs. We appreciate their continuous efforts to take amazing pictures and therefore believe that this is a great way to give back to them, said AAA s CEO James Fazio. Spotter s Day will take place every year around the same date.
New Flight Information Display Software (FIDS) Aruba Airport launched a new Flight Information Display Software (FIDS). In April 2018, SITA visited the airport to provide a FIDS workshop to the ICT department and specific team members who focused on gathering a complete set of relevant information, including content management requirements, user access and accounts, screen designs and way finding standards, architectural plans (FIDS screen locations) and media content to be displayed and screen specifications. After 3 months, the new layouts were deployed in stages on July 24 th, 2018. The new FIDS now have a modern feel showcasing the destinations with an iconic picture and Aruba as part of the departure and arrival experience.
New Access Control and Badging Policy Aruba Airport provided a presentation and demo to all airport users including AAA personnel, airlines, concessionaires, ground handlers, authorities and third party visitors on the new policy and online enrollment systems concerning the new access control and badging policy that went into effect on August 15, 2018. With these 2 changes AAA is one step further in the digital world and one step closer to becoming a more paperless company. More information can be requested via idadmin@airportaruba.com. Summer Airport Tours Recap Every year Aruba Airport is approached by many schools/ camps to provide a tour to their groups as part of their curriculum. Aruba Airport excitingly welcomed a total of 18 schools/camps during the months of July and August with an average of 32 kids per group. In the tour the kids walk through the airport s terminal, go on a bus ride on the airside, receive information on the immigrations and customs procedures and learn important travel tips. Aruba Airport recognizes that learning and development are important to enduring success and supports educational tours like these.
Monthly Performance Stats August 2018 @ArubaAirport www.airportaruba.com
AAA news August 2018 @ArubaAirport www.airportaruba.com Spotlight on: One Happy Bar The island slogan One Happy Island should not only be used to welcome arriving tourists, but also to provide departing passengers their last Happy Island experience at the airport. One Happy Bar opened on August 2 nd, 2005 and bar owner Momma Lea wants all guests to feel like they re visiting their family members. Momma Lea is the heart of One Happy Bar and treats her employees as her own family. Most of the employees have been with the company since the very beginning. She is the one who takes care of the sandwiches together with the boys at the bar: Glenn, also known as the Jokester and Alex, the Sweet One. Momma Lea explained that they are very fortunate to see many of their guests year in and year out, some even a few times a year. Having so many repeat guests, they ve built strong relationships with their customers who they call their friends. At One Happy Bar, the team makes sure that every customer gets what they like, and if they don t have it on this specific trip, One Happy Bar will prepare it for their next visit to Aruba. One Happy Bar serves a variety of cocktails, beers and other beverages and offers a selected menu. Every visitor at One Happy Bar leaves as another One Happy Customer!