BRUSSELS - According to Air Belgium, aviation fuel in Curaçao costs twenty percent more than the company pays for it at its home base at Brussels Airport. The airline indicated this during an online press conference for the international media.  

The passenger tax in Curaçao is also higher than at the airport of the European capital. Twice as much was asked: 75 euros in Curaçao against 33 euros in Brussels.  

Air Belgium decided last week to discontinue the flight frequency to Curaçao during the low season, but a decision on what to do next, in the summer, has not yet been made.  

The message during the press conference is that Air Belgium will not definitively stop flights to Curaçao, but may offer seasonal offers. 

The flight from Brussels to Curaçao is operated in combination with the destination Punta Cana. That destination is even more expensive than Curaçao. In the Dominican Republic, jet fuel even costs 53 percent more than in Belgium. And passenger taxes in Punta Cana are even three times more expensive: 110 euros per person.  

There are also more complaints about Punta Cana because according to Air Belgium, this Dominican airport requires travelers with destination Curaçao to disembark before the flight with new passengers can continue. 

Apart from the increased fuel prices, the weak(er) euro against the dollar is also affecting airlines. “You earn in euros, but in aviation, you have to pay in dollars.”  

The energy crisis and high inflation are also major challenges, as demand is expected to decline, especially in the 'price-sensitive' markets. The Caribbean region is seen as a price-sensitive market.  

On March 9, next year, Air Belgium will provisionally operate the last flight, in combination with Punta Cana. Depending on the situation, it will be considered whether flights can be resumed in the summer.