The Directorate of Civil Aviation of Aruba (DCA) recently approved a Letter of Acceptance, for recognition of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport’s level of security.
This recognition of equivalence allows flights originating from Schiphol Airport into Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, to no longer have to duplicate security measures upon arrival in Aruba and to allow transiting passengers and luggage to seamlessly transit at Aruba Airport onto flights to other destinations, without jeopardizing safety and security.
ICAO’s Annex 17 allows such arrangements in respect of certain security controls, with support of the Member State and by a validation process and continuously implementing procedures with the other State to ensure that the application of security controls at the point of origin is accompanied by subsequent protection measures against unauthorized interference up until the aircraft departs from the transfer point.
Mr. Edwin Kelly, Director of DCA, indicated that part of the process to achieve recognition of equivalence entailed a thorough audit of the security processes of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, including review of staffing, training, procedures, equipment, maintenance, documentation and other measures to guarantee passenger and luggage sterility.
CEO of Aruba Airport Authority NV (AAA), operator of Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, Mr. Joost Meijs, indicated that this is a very positive development as States and Airports continue to seek ways to better facilitate more efficient travel between countries and Airports. He stated to look forward to achieving similar types of Agreements with other Airports and States as well, as these agreements ultimately benefit the passengers’ travel experience through Aruba’s Airport.
Two Airlines are currently flying directly from Schiphol Airport to Aruba. KLM currently operates a total of 7 weekly nonstop services from Schiphol to Aruba which translates to a monthly average of 7,500 passengers, of which some 3,100 are transit passengers. A significant number of passengers traveling from Schiphol are transit passengers, connecting to other Caribbean destinations and as of September 11, 2019 these passengers will be able to transit seamlessly at Aruba Airport.
