WILLEMSTAD - The Advisory Council (RvA) warns that Curaçao is at risk of not regaining the Category 1 status of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) anytime soon. This is stated in the Council's advice on Curaçao's 2025 budget.
Curaçao lost its Category 1 status with the FAA in 2012 due to its failure to meet international aviation safety standards at the time.
This status is crucial for direct flights between Curaçao and the United States. According to the Council, insufficient progress has been made in implementing the necessary aviation legislation and regulations to regain this status.
In its advice, the Council expresses concern about delays in finalizing the National Aviation Ordinance and the associated decree, both of which are essential to meet the FAA’s requirements.
Although this legislation was supposed to be completed by 2023, it has yet to be finalized. The Council urges the government to communicate more clearly on what actions will be taken and within what timeframe the necessary steps will occur.
Additionally, the Council criticizes the lack of sufficient and qualified staff at the Ministry of Traffic, Transport, and Urban Planning. There is not enough capacity to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the FAA.
This is alarming, as air traffic with the U.S. is vital for tourism, one of the pillars of Curaçao's economy.
The Council advises the government to urgently implement the necessary measures to ensure aviation safety and to regain FAA Category 1 status.