Air Travel
Air Travel information pertinent to Bonaire
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Insel Air Temporarily Halts Wednesday Flight from Charlotte (North Carolina) to Bonaire
The Bonaire Insider has just learned that Insel Air must unfortunately immediately discontinue the Wednesday flight from Charlotte, North Carolina (USA) to Bonaire, with a connection in Curacao, beginning with tomorrow’s flight, January 18th, 2012.
All passengers that are booked on flights mentioned above (Wednesday flights only) will be re-booked on other flights. Please consult your travel agent or dive tour operator for all schedule changes. Due to great demand and bookings during the season’s prime time, (for example, Easter, or summer 2012), Insel Air will be operating the Wednesday flight as scheduled.
All Saturday flights between Charlotte, Curacao and Bonaire will remain as scheduled.
Insel Air deeply regrets this inconvenience and urges all ticketed passengers to contact them on this matter should there be questions and/or comments. They can be reached at email support@fly-inselair.com. (Source: TCB-NY)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Dutch Antilles Express to Resume Service Between Bonaire and Curacao
Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) will re-introduce flights between Bonaire and Curacao on February 3, 2012 on a fully renovated ATR-42. The flight will operate three times daily with connections to other DAE destinations. DAE also announced the intention to expand the destinations to which they fly and to increase their fleet later this year.
DAE has also introduced several new passenger discounts. Seniors over age 60 and children age two to twelve years old will receive a 50% discount. Infants up to two years of age can travel for free on a parent’s lap and infants with a seat will receive a 50% discount. Request the discount when making the reservation. These specials are subject to certain restrictions, so check with DAE for details.
Reservations can be processed through travel agencies and DAE’s ticket office starting January 15, 2012. (Source: Dutch Antilles Express)
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Dutch Antilles Express Moving Forward with Plans to Reinstate Service to Bonaire
There’s more regional airline news today as Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) has announced that the new management has reached an agreement with lessors to return the same aircraft that previously had been used to transport passengers between Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba. Until the ATR42 arrives and is re-introduced into the fleet (planned for January), DAE continues to provide route service between Curacao and Aruba with its Fokker 100 jet.
With the January re-initiation of service between Curacao and Bonaire with the ATR42 aircraft, DAE will begin with two daily flights between the islands, as well as two daily flights between Curacao and Aruba. Plans call for the flight frequency to be increased to four daily trips between Curacao and Bonaire and between Aruba and Curaçao once the additional crew returns from training in mid-February.
The interior of the ATR42 has been fully refurbished, as part of the effort and commitment of the new Dutch Antilles Express to improve the experience of its passengers. Dutch Antilles Express will increase its fleet of ATRs to a total of three, with two additional ATR42, from the same lessor, arriving in April, 2012. Plans also call for many new routes and increased flights and destinations, but the general focus will remain on quality transportation between the islands of the Dutch Antilles. (Source: Dutch Antilles Express)
EZ Air Announces Route Expansion for Spring, 2012
EZ Air, a regional commuter airline company with headquarters on Bonaire, has announced that they will expand their routes to the islands of St. Eustatius (Statia) and Saba within the next several months. EZ Air has three aircraft, two Islanders and one Piper Chieftain, which is used for medical transport. The Islanders can support nine passengers each.
Since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in October, 2010, EZ Air is the only airline company that is now domiciled here in the BES Islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba), and thus they are particularly suited to assist with the passenger traffic which has increased between these three islands. Their plans call for one Islander to be stationed on St. Eustatius for the flights between Saba and St. Maarten with a connecting flight to St. Kitts and Montserrat via St. Eustatius. The company is also negotiating with Caribbean Commuter Airways (which flies to the southern part of the Caribbean region) to connect with their flights to Dominica and St. Lucia.
According to René Winkel, director of EZ Air, these two companies intend to share their airlinks starting next spring. This means that passengers traveling to the northern and the southern part of the Caribbean area theoretically will be able to connect with the EZ Air routes via St. Eustatius.
EZ Air also has plans to expand the international routes with four new direct flights between Bonaire and St. Eustatius, with a connection to St. Maarten. The latter is necessary because aircraft cannot refuel on the F.D. Roosevelt Airport of St. Eustatius. Additionally, the runway is too short for certain types of aircraft.
This network of EZ Air also includes flights from Bonaire to Valencia in Venezuela, to Aruba and Barranquilla, Columbia. The specific details about the frequency of these international flights will be announced as soon as the required permissions are in place. (Source: Amigoe)
Friday, October 07, 2011
Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) To Suspend Operations To and From Bonaire for 30 Days
The Bonaire Insider has just learned that, as part of a restructuring, Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) will suspend all operations to and from both Bonaire and Aruba beginning Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Both Insel Air and Tiara Air do plan on adding in additional flights during this period.
This suspension in services might affect those visitors who are arriving from North America or Europe via Curacao or Aruba, and those who have confirmed reservations on DAE for the 30 day period commencing next Tuesday, are urged to immediately make other arrangements. Flights are available on Divi Divi Air, Insel Air, EZ Air, or Tiara Air. For more information on contacting these airlines, click here. Or, for additional information, contact DAE at 717-0808. (Source: Bonaire International Airport)
Note Update October 18, 2011: The Bonaire Insider has just been informed by DAE that those ticketed passengers affected by the interruption of service will be provided with alternative transportation to their final destination, whether this be Bonaire, Aruba, or Curacao. Additionally, DAE will provide a voucher which will have a value equivalent to the value of the unused ticket purchased by the customer. This voucher can be used within a year of its issuance to purchase any ticket on DAE’s network. Passengers may also opt to refund their unused tickets.
We’re told that DAE is currently doing all within its means to contact passengers flying to one of the above mentioned destinations. Inbound or outbound Bonaire passengers whom have not been contacted are requested to contact the DAE call center at telephone 717-0808, open daily from 07:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
DAE would like to make use of this opportunity and offer its sincere apologies for any inconvenience that may be caused due to the temporary suspension of its flights to and from Aruba and Bonaire. (Source: Dutch Antilles Express)
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Insel Air Introduces Comfort Class
In addition to their normal economy class seating, Insel Air has just introduced a new “Comfort Class” seating aboard their entire fleet, with the exception of the small Embraer-Banderaintes aircraft, and this service will be available on all flights with a duration of longer than 45 minutes.
Comfort Class will involve an extra quality to the offered economy services, including alcoholic beverages on board and the possibility of additional luggage. Comfort Class passengers will be allowed to board the aircraft first, greeted with a beverage or snack, and the seating is situated in the forward part of the aircraft, giving passengers in this class of service an additional legroom of five centimeters, and also additional storage space for luggage. These passengers are allowed to take along extra luggage up to 20 kilos, depending on their destination, according to the airline company.
Insel Air’s Comfort Class passengers will also enjoy a variety of other benefits, including high quality food and beverages during the flight, newspapers, the Insel Air In-flight magazine, and preferential treatment on ground services and admission to the business lounge. Those passengers who are members of Insel Air’s loyalty program, Star Miles, will save 10% extra when choosing to travel in Comfort Class. If any Comfort Class seats are not sold by the time of departure, an upgrade can be done at the last minute for the special introductory rate of $60.00 per passenger, excluding the option for extra luggage.
Insel Air flies non-stop from Miami to Bonaire each Saturday, and from Charlotte, North Caroline to Bonaire (via Curacao) twice each week. For additional information, visit their web site by clicking here. (Source: Amigoe)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Insel Air Extends Introductory Fares from Charlotte (USA)
As reported in an earlier story, Insel Air recently launched their flights from Charlotte, North Carolina to Bonaire (via Curacao). And now there’s good news for those planning a visit to Bonaire from this region, as Insel Air has extended their introductory special fare.
The booking window now has been extended to Saturday, October 1st, and the round-trip fare remains $366.70, including all taxes and also the Bonaire airport departure tax. Flights are each Wednesday and Saturday. It’s highly recommended to book early, as seats on this fare are capacity controlled, and this fare might not be available on all flights. Travel must be completed by Thursday, December 15, 2011. (Source: TCB-NY)
Note Update October 7, 2011: We’ve just learned that Insel Air has once again extended the booking window for the special fare sale on the new Charlotte-Curacao-Bonaire and return flights. Travel through December 15, 2011 can now be booked at the introductory fare of $366.70, space available, through December 15, 2011. (Source: TCB-NY)
Monday, August 01, 2011
Continental Airlines Announces Fare Sale from Newark to Bonaire
Those planning a last-minute trip to Bonaire from the northeastern United States can take advantage of a newly announced fare sale of $700.00 round-trip from Newark (New Jersey) to Bonaire.
This fare is the adult fare, and does not include all taxes or fees. Checked baggage fees may also apply. The fare is available now for travel beginning August 31st, 2011 for trip lengths of eight days. For additional information, visit the Continental Airlines web site by clicking here. (Source: Continental Airlines)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Bonaire’s Flamingo Airport to Re-Open 24 Hours a Day Starting Friday, July 29, 2011
As of Friday morning, July 29, 2011 at 06:45 LT, and, happily, precisely according to plan, the runway at Bonaire’s Flamingo Airport once again will be available 24 hours each day. At that time, the temporary closings of the airport that have existed for the past six months while the runway was renovated will be canceled.
Although work will continue at the airport in the coming months, it will no longer disrupt arriving or departing flights, and so Bonaire will return to a full load of flights coming in from international destinations as well as regional flights.
Some of the new work just commissioned is in the new west area, being the new turnpad, new runway lights, new approach lights, new runway markings, the new precision approach path indicators, the new Air Traffic Control Tower touch screen interface, and the new wind sock. There will be additional work performed in the coming months, too, but nothing that will interfere with the airport’s arriving and departing flights.
Congratulations go to the airport team assigned to this massive undertaking for getting the job done on time and without accidents or incidents. (Source: Bonaire International Airport/Flamingo Airport)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Insel Air Extends Introductory Fare Between Charlotte and Curacao to Include Bonaire
Insel Air commenced flying between Curacao and Charlotte, North Carolina on June 22, 2011, with connecting service to Bonaire. To kick off this new service, Insel announced a special low introductory fare, which they have now extended to those travelers going to Bonaire. The round trip fare is $361, including all taxes and the Bonaire airport departure tax. Travel for this special fare must be booked by August 13, 2011 and travel must be completed by December 14, 2011.
The new service operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and starting Thursday July 29, 2011, there will be two connections between Bonaire and Charlotte on both Wednesdays and Saturdays. The current flight schedule has flight 7I 914 departing Charlotte at 2:55 PM, arriving in Curacao at 7:10 PM. The connecting flight to Bonaire, which is 7I 301, departs Curacao at 9:30 PM, arriving in Bonaire at 9:55 PM. From Bonaire to Charlotte, flight 7I 302 departs Bonaire at 7:55 AM, arriving in Curacao at 8:20 AM. The connecting flight to Charlotte, which is 7I 913, departs Curacao at 9:10 AM and arrives in Charlotte at 1:25 PM.
Insel Air has an interline agreement with US Airways, which means that those connecting to US Airway flights in Charlotte can get ticketed through to connect to 58 US Airway destinations without extra check-in. The special fare is available at all Insel Air sales offices, travel agents, tour operators and the Insel Air web site. (Source: TCB-NY)
Note Update June 30, 2011: We’ve just been informed that the pricing in the story above was incorrect. The base fare for Curacao-Charlotte and Bonaire-Charlotte are common-rated. However, there is a price difference because the airport tax from Bonaire is included if you travel from Bonaire and there is a fuel charge on the route between Bonaire and Curacao. Therefore, the price including all taxes between Bonaire and Charlotte is $366.70.
