ORANJESTAD – The number of visitors traveling from Curaçao and Bonaire to Aruba has dropped by nearly 50% since 2012, according to Aruban lawyer and columnist Lincoln D. Gomez. In an appeal to the governments, aviation authorities, and tourism boards of the three islands, Gomez is urging the restoration of reliable, affordable, and frequent air connections between Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. 

Gomez stresses that the problem is not a lack of demand, but rather the limited and unreliable supply of flights. 

“We mostly have small aircraft with low capacity, which makes tickets scarce. Cancellations are frequent, and some insurers even prohibit their clients from using these flights,” he said. 

As a result, business meetings, family visits, and tourist trips are often canceled. 

According to Gomez, inter-island travel was once much easier, with more airlines operating larger aircraft. The decline in flight availability, he argues, not only hurts tourism but also causes economic damage, as companies are less likely to expand to neighboring islands and joint projects face delays. 

He is calling for a coordinated effort from the governments, aviation regulators, airports, and tourism agencies of the three islands to make travel between the ABC islands seamless once again. 

“The ABCs should be a simple one-two-three, not a logistical puzzle that drives visitors away and frustrates entrepreneurs,” Gomez emphasized.