View source for Queen Beatrix International Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = Queen Beatrix <br />International Airport
| nativename          = {{small|''Internationale luchthaven <br />Koningin Beatrix''}}<br /> {{small|''Aeropuerto Internacional <br />Reina Beatrix''}}
| image               = 
| image2              = File:Roman Tokman Aruba Airport.jpg
| image-width         = 250
| IATA                = AUA
| ICAO                = TNCA
| type                = Public
| owner               = Aruba Airport Authority N.V.
| location            = [[Oranjestad, Aruba|Oranjestad]], [[Aruba]]
| hub                 = [[Aruba Airlines]]
| focus_city          = [[Aerosucre]]
| elevation-f         = 60
| coordinates         = {{Coord|12|30|05|N|70|00|55|W|region:AW|display=inline,title}}
| website             = [http://www.airportaruba.com/ airportaruba.com]
| pushpin_map         = Aruba
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Aruba
| pushpin_label       = '''AUA'''
| pushpin_label_position = left
| r1-number           = 11/29
| r1-length-m         = 2,808
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| metric-rwy          = Y
| footnotes           = Source: Aruba Airport<ref>{{Cite web | title=Specifications | url=https://www.airportaruba.com/specifications | access-date=2025-08-28 | website=www.airportaruba.com}}</ref>
}}

'''Queen Beatrix International Airport''' {{Airport codes|AUA|TNCA}} ({{langx|nl|Internationale luchthaven Koningin Beatrix}}; {{langx|pap|Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix}}) is an [[international airport]] located in the [[Dutch Caribbean]] island of [[Aruba]]. It has flight services to the United States, Canada, several countries in the Caribbean, the northern coastal countries of South America, as well as some parts of Europe, notably the Netherlands. It is named after [[Beatrix of the Netherlands]], who reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 to 2013.

==Overview==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
The airport offers [[United States border preclearance|United States border preclearance facilities]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aruba AIrport |title=US CBP Preclearance |url=https://www.airportaruba.com/press-releases/us-cbp-preclearance |website=airportaruba}}</ref>

The airport originally served as main hub for [[Air Aruba]] until its bankruptcy in 2000. Before Aruba's separation from the [[Netherlands Antilles]] in 1986 it was also one of three hubs for [[ALM Antillean Airlines]] as well as home base for [[Tiara Air]] until 2016.

A terminal for private aircraft opened in 2007.

Since 2013 the airport is home to [[Aruba Airlines]]. The airline has three [[Airbus A320 family]] aircraft and two [[Bombardier CRJ200]]. The main focus of Aruba Airlines is connecting the region through its hub.

==History==
[[File:197306 aruba airport.jpg|thumb|The airport in 1973]]

In 1934, Manuel Viana launched a weekly mail and passenger service between Aruba and [[Curaçao]], with A.J. Viccellio piloting [[Loening C-2|Loening C-2H Air Yacht]] PJ-ZAA from a [[mud-flat]] runway. Commercial services were taken over by [[KLM]] from 24 December 1934. Later{{when|date=September 2017}} they were transferred to a graded runway known as the KLM field.<ref name="aruba airport">{{cite web|url=https://www.airportaruba.com/airport-history|title=Airport History|access-date=16 September 2017}}</ref> KLM's Snip, the PJ-AIS a Fokker tri-motor, ushered in the scheduled flying age in Aruba on 19 January 1935. Together with the KLM's “Oriol”, the PJ-AIO, also a three-engine Fokker, they flew until 1946, after which they were scrapped.
On its bi-weekly Aruba-Curaçao operations, KLM transported 2,695 passengers on 471 flights.<ref name="aruba airport"/>

During World War II, the airport was used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[United States Air Forces Southern Command|Sixth Air Force]] defending Caribbean shipping and the [[Panama Canal]] against German submarines.<ref name="aruba airport"/> The airfield was renamed Dakota Field; the terminal facilities became Dakota Airport.<ref name="aruba airport"/> Flying units assigned to the airfield were:

* [[59th Bombardment Squadron]] ([[9th Bombardment Group]]) 14 January-24 September 1942 (A-20 Havoc)
* [[12th Missile Squadron|12th Bombardment Squadron]] ([[25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing|25th Bombardment Group]]) 10 October 1942 – 23 November 1943 (B-18 Bolo)
* [[22d Fighter Squadron]] ([[36th Wing|36th Fighter Group]]) 2 September 1942 – April 1943 (P-40 Warhawk)
* [[32nd Air Operations Squadron|32d Fighter Squadron]] ([[Antilles Air Command]]) 9 March 1943 – March 1944 (P-40 Warhawk)

On 22 October 1955, the airport was named after Princess [[Beatrix of the Netherlands]] during a royal visit. It was renamed in 1980 after her accession to the throne.<ref name="aruba airport"/>

On 3 March 2021, [[American Airlines]] celebrated its 50 years flying to and from Aruba.<ref name="American Airlines celebrates its 50 years service to Aruba">{{cite web|url=https://www.airportaruba.com/press-releases/american-airlines-celebrates-50-years-of-service-to-aruba-130|title=Airport History|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>

Aruba was late to implementing baggage handling advanced enough to relieve U.S.-bound passengers of the traditional legal requirement of physically walking their baggage through U.S. customs inspection.  For several decades, this forced U.S.-bound passengers to undergo a time-consuming preclearance procedure: they had to check in baggage, pass through Aruba primary airport security screening followed by Aruba exit customs, then reclaim checked baggage, walk it through immigration and customs inspections at the [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|Customs and Border Protection]] port of entry, recheck their baggage, pass through a secondary security screening in accordance with U.S. standards, and then proceed to their departure gates.

As part of Phase 1A of Gateway 2030, a massive airport expansion project, the airport built a new U.S. Check-In Terminal with sufficiently advanced baggage handling equipment, thereby relieving U.S.-bound passengers of the burden of reclaiming baggage and undergoing another screening.  The first flights began from the new terminal on April 8, 2025.<ref name="Routes Online">{{cite news |title=Aruba Airport Continues Progress in Gateway 2030 Project with Soft Opening of U.S. Check-In Terminal |url=https://www.routesonline.com/airports/2361/aruba-airport-authority-nv/news/299664494/aruba-airport-continues-progress-in-gateway-2030-project-with-soft-opening-of-us-check-in-terminal/ |work=Routes Online |date=April 29, 2025}}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==
[[File:AUA control tower.JPG|thumb|The air traffic control tower]]
[[File:AUA baggage claim.JPG|thumb|The baggage claim area]]
[[File:Sign at Aruba Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix).jpg|thumb|Welcome sign]]
[[File:Non-US departures building at AUA.JPG|thumb|The non-USA departures building]]
[[File:AUA walkway to security.JPG|thumb|Walkway to security and US pre-clearance facilities]]

===Passenger===<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and the airlines themselves are not independent sources. -->
{{airport-dest-list
| [[Air Canada Rouge]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]
| [[Air Century]] | [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]], [[La Isabela International Airport|Santo Domingo–La Isabela]]
| {{nowrap|[[Aerolíneas Argentinas]]}} | '''Seasonal:''' [[Ministro Pistarini International Airport|Buenos Aires–Ezeiza]] (begins 3 January 2026),<ref name="AR">{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Aerolineas Argentinas Adds Aruba in 1Q26 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250912-arnw25aua |website=AeroRoutes |access-date=12 September 2025 |language=en-CA |date=12 September 2025}}</ref> [[Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport|Córdoba (AR)]] (begins 3 January 2026),<ref name="AR"/> [[Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport|Mendoza]] (begins 2 January 2026)<ref>{{cite web |title=Aerolineas Argentinas Adds Mendoza – Aruba in 1Q26 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250918-ar1q26aua |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref>
| [[American Airlines]] | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]]<br />'''Seasonal:''' [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]],  [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.routesonline.com/airports/2361/aruba-airport-authority-nv/news/299663848/aruba-airport-winter-flight-schedule-updates/|title=Aruba Airport Winter Flight Schedule Updates|website=RoutesOnline|publisher=Informa Markets|date=December 3, 2024}}</ref>
| [[Arajet]] | [[Las Américas International Airport|Santo Domingo–Las Américas]]
| [[Avianca]] | [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá]]
| [[Avianca Ecuador]] | [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá]]
| [[British Airways]] | [[V. C. Bird International Airport|Antigua]], [[London Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]]
| [[Copa Airlines]] | [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City–Tocumen]]
| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]<br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]]<ref name=MSPSXM>{{cite web|url=https://news.delta.com/trade-snow-sunshine-deltas-new-flights-msp-aruba-st-maarten-and-more|title= Trade snow for sunshine: Delta's new flights from MSP to Aruba, St. Maarten and more|date=Jun 21, 2024}}</ref>
| [[Divi Divi Air]] | [[Hato International Airport|Curaçao]]
| [[Frontier Airlines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Frontier Airlines 2Q25 Atlanta Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250228-f9ns25atl |website=AeroRoutes |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref>
| [[Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes|Gol Linhas Aéreas]] | [[São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport|São Paulo–Guarulhos]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flapinternational.com.br/aviacao-comercial/gol-anuncia-mais-um-destino-no-caribe/|title=Gol anuncia mais um destino no Caribe|website=Flap International|date=4 June 2024|access-date=6 June 2024|language=pt}}</ref>
| [[JetBlue]] | [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]] (resumes 13 December 2025),<ref name="streetinsider.com">{{cite web| url=https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=25318608&gfv=1 | title=JetBlue adds nine new routes from Fort Lauderdale starting November |website=Street Insider | date=September 10, 2025 }}</ref> [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]
| [[KLM]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]]{{ref|1|1}}
| [[LATAM Colombia]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá]] (resumes 1 December 2025)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.routesonline.com/airports/2361/aruba-airport-authority-nv/news/299664824/latam-set-to-introduce-3-weekly-flights-from-bog-to-aua/ |title=LATAM set to introduce 3 weekly flights from BOG to AUA |website=Routes |publisher=Informa Markets |date=2025-07-09}}</ref>
| [[LATAM Perú]] | [[Jorge Chávez International Airport|Lima]]<ref>{{cite web |title=LATAM Peru start flight to Aruba|url= https://aviacionaldia.com/2023/05/latam-airlines-anuncia-nueva-ruta-entre-lima-y-aruba.html|access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref>
| [[Sky High Aviation Services|Sky High]] | [[Las Américas International Airport|Santo Domingo–Las Américas]]
| [[Southwest Airlines]] | [[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]]
| [[Spirit Airlines]] | [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]]
| [[Sun Country Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]]
| [[Surinam Airways]] | [[Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport|Paramaribo]]
| [[TUI fly Netherlands]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]]{{ref|1|2}}
| [[United Airlines]] | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]], [[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]]
| [[WestJet]] | [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Toronto, ON, Canada YTO|pages=1156-1162}}</ref>
| [[Winair]]| [[Hato International Airport|Curaçao]], [[Princess Juliana International Airport|St. Maarten]]{{ref|1|3}}<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=St. Maarten, St Maarten (Dutch Part) SXM|pages=1000-1000}}</ref>
| [[Wingo (airline)|Wingo]] | [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá]], [[José María Córdova International Airport|Medellín–JMC]]<br>'''Seasonal:''' [[Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport|Cali]]
| [[Z Air]] | [[Flamingo International Airport|Bonaire]], [[Hato International Airport|Curaçao]]
}}

;Notes
*<small>{{note|1|1}} [[KLM]]'s flights operate to and from Bonaire on selected days.</small>
*<small>{{note|1|2}} [[TUI Airlines Netherlands]]' flights operate between Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao on selected days. However, the airline does not have [[Freedoms of the air|fifth freedom rights]] to transport passengers solely between Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.</small>
*<small>{{note|1|3}} [[Winair]]'s flights operate between Aruba and Sint Maarten via Curaçao on selected days.</small>

===Cargo===
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}
{{Airport destination list
| [[Aerosucre]] | [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá]]
| [[Ameriflight]] | [[Rafael Hernández Airport|Aguadilla]], [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]]
| [[DHL Aero Expreso]] | [[Curaçao International Airport|Curaçao]], [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City–Tocumen]]
| [[Vensecar Internacional]] | [[Hato International Airport|Curaçao]], [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City–Tocumen]], [[Las Américas International Airport|Santo Domingo–Las Américas]]
}}

==Statistics==
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=AUA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+Busiest US routes from Aruba (2009–2010){{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
! Rank
! Airport
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
|{{center|1}}
| [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK, New York]]
|{{center|237,498}}
| Delta, JetBlue
|-
|{{center|2}}
| [[Miami International Airport|Miami, Florida]]
|{{center|209,364}}
| American
|-
|{{center|3}}
| [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark, New Jersey]]
|{{center|145,448}}
| JetBlue, Continental/United
|-
|{{center|4}}
| [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta, Georgia]]
|{{center|139,547}}
| Delta
|-
|{{center|5}}
| [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte, North Carolina]]
|{{center|120,362}}
| US Airways/American
|-
|{{center|6}}
| [[Logan International Airport|Boston, MA]]
|{{center|113,910}}
| JetBlue, Delta
|-
|{{center|7}}
| [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia, PA]]
|{{center|67,993}}
| US Airways/American
|-
|{{center|8}}
| [[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles, VA]]
|{{center|27,477}}
| United
|-
|{{center|9}}
| [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois]]
|{{center|18,362}}
| United, US Airways/American
|-
|{{center|10}}
| [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental, TX]]
|{{center|15,727}}
| Continental/United
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 13 January 2010, an [[Arkefly]] Boeing 767-300 (registration PH-AHQ), operating Flight 361 from [[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]] to Queen Beatrix International Airport, declared an emergency after a man claimed to have a bomb on board. A struggle with the flight crew ensued, and the aircraft made an emergency landing at [[Shannon Airport]], Ireland. [[Garda Síochána|Gardaí]] stormed the plane and arrested the man; he was taken to Shannon Garda police station. A passenger who had recently had surgery collapsed in the terminal while waiting for the continuation of the flight, and had to be taken to a local hospital. The replacement aircraft, PH-AHY, also a Boeing 767-300, continued the flight to Aruba. {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

==See also==
* [[Trams in Oranjestad]]

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* {{cite book| author = Maurer Maurer| title = Air Force Combat Units of World War II: History and Insignia| date = 1 January 1982| publisher = Zenger Publishing Company, Incorporated| isbn = 978-0-89201-092-9 }}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}

==External links==
* [http://www.airportaruba.com/ Official Website]
* {{NWS-current|TNCA}}
* {{ASN|AUA}}

{{portal bar|Aviation|Netherlands|Caribbean}}
{{Buildings in Aruba}}
{{USAAF 6th Air Force World War II}}
{{Airports in the Netherlands}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces]]
[[Category:Airports in Aruba]]
[[Category:Airports with United States border preclearance]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1934]]
[[Category:Oranjestad, Aruba]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Aruba]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Beatrix of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1942]]
[[Category:Military airbases closed in 1944]]