Aruba Airlines A319 A4-AAE lands at Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport – Click photo to enlarge
Greetings from Aruba! Visiting the “one happy island” (as they market it) has been on my to-do list since Southwest started service here a few years back via integration of AirTran’s ops into their own. As luck would have it, my newly minted AvGeek wife was amenable to a honeymoon visit. SXM, the AvGeek Mecca, would have been our first choice, but that island is still in repair mode from extensive damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
PlaneSpotting in Aruba: Hotel private island south of Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport – Image: Flightradar24.com
While researching PlaneSpotting in Aruba, I was delighted to learn that two local hotels share a private island which runs alongside Aruba’s airport – Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport. While no #MahoBeach, this would certainly fit the bill for running away from the already cold (and falling) Kansas City temps to enjoy some tropical weather, and allowing us to check out some planes. Bonus points for wild iguanas, pelicans, and an occasional flamingo as well.
The island is only accessible via 10-minute boat ride, and is exclusive to guests of one of two Renaissance properties in Aruba. As a sort of deterrent to outsiders, the boat captains ask each passenger for their keycard and insert it into what is almost certainly a phony offline card reader. In any case, should you plan to visit, stay at one of the two properties or call ahead to make other arrangements. We heard twice that non-customers can purchase a day pass to the island depending on availability. Being that this was our honeymoon and I recently achieved lifetime Marriott platinum status, it seemed appropriate to stay at one of the upscale properties.
We spent most of the day on the island, hopping in and out of the ocean between active and inactive arrival periods. For any other relationship or honeymoon, this wouldn’t be tolerated, but thankfully my AvGeek wife was fully on board with my desire to strike a balance between unwinding while on Caribbean vacation and maintaining a healthy dose of plane spotting in Aruba. Click through to see the day’s catch…
Ok, not a plane, but still pretty darn cool, right? Points for it being something that can fly?
PlaneSpotting in Aruba: The Fun Stuff
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- Avianca flight 8378 from BOG (Bogota) carried by HC-CTZ, an A320.
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- Surinam Airways flight 631 from PBM (Paramaribo, Surinam) carried by PZ-TCH, a B737.
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- Aruba Airlines flight 820 from MIA carried by P4-AAE, an A319.
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- EZ Air flight 314 from CUR (Curacao) carried by PJ-EZR, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander.
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- Divi Divi Air flight 278 from CUR (Curacao) carried by PJ-DVE, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter.
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- DHL Aero Expreso with unknown flight number presumably heading to PTY (Panama City), carried by HP-3110DAE, a B734.
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- P4-FUN a Cessna 182D Skylane operated by SkyDive Aruba.
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- Ameriflight flight 7120 to CUR (Curacao) carried by N567SW, an E120. – Look familiar? This is a former United Express plane now running freight.
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- Aruba Airlines flight 1130 to LSP (Las Piedras, Venezuela) carried by C-FXLH a CR2.
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- Copa Airlines flight 505 to PTY (Panama City) carried by HP-1714CMP, a B738.
PlaneSpotting in Aruba: The Everyday American Carriers
Planes and airlines most domestic (U.S.) plane spotters can see at any given airport. What makes PlaneSpotting in Aruba special is that these aren’t the dominant carriers. Bonus points for the occasional boat in the frame as well.
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- United flight 1042 from EWR carried by N66808, a B739.
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- Delta Air Lines flight 655 from ATL, carried by N673DL, a B752.
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- American Airlines flight 1346 from CLT carried by N963NN, a B738.
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- Southwest flight 1632 from FLL carried by N460WN, a B737.
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- Jetblue flight 557 to JFK carried by N972JT, an A321. This plane carries the name “Just Plane Blue.”
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- Jetblue flight 873 from BOS carried by N646JB, an A320. This plane carries the name “Bravo Lima Uniform Echo.”
PlaneSpotting in Aruba: Conclusion
Our trip to Aruba provided for a great honeymoon with the added perk of convenient and diverse PlaneSpotting. It takes a good bit of effort to find a balance, but keeping an eye on your favorite flight tracker (we use FlightRadar24 mostly) is sure to help. Happy spotting!
A Green Iguana spots the PlaneSpotter, because after all, this is a story about Aruba
Congrats on the wedding! Thanks as well for a cool trip report.
Congrats! You lucky dog! Looks like it was a great place to vacation.
Welcome to the family, my son in law! Great article and love the pictures! Love…your mother in law and papa Mahk!
The AV plane caption should read Bogota not Bogata.
Nice catch. Will correct. Thank you for the feedback!
I am very happy and proud to read about this Report. As a local aviation spotter there is more location where u can spot and click airplanes much closer while the aircraft approaches to RWY 11
You”re welcome. Great article. Y”all do great reporting.
Very nice. Thanks. I like it. My island Arubaâ¤
beautiful
Nice report! Having been to Aruba in September, I found a very reasonable spotting location for the non-Renaissance people. It is on Surfside Beach, which is on the opposite side of the runway than You were. Light is not really an issue, because the sun stands high above you almost the whole day, but getting better during the afternoon. Very good accommodation thanks to Reflections Bar or Surfside Beach Bar. You can even go the airport fence, but due to construction work and a high and small gridded fence taking photos is a little bit tricky. As a tourist you normally do not carry a multi-step ladder with you….
Good info. We are planning a return trip in which I do not expect we will stay at the Ren properties the entire time. I look forward to exploring your spot and possibly others upon our return. Comments like yours make AR that much stronger. Thanks for being here, Thomas!
– JL / AirlineReporter