Wingo has launched a new year-round route between Barranquilla and Aruba, expanding the low-cost carrier’s growing network between Colombia and the Dutch Caribbean island.
The new flights will begin on July 9 and operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. The first flight arrived in Aruba with all 156 seats filled, indicating early demand for travel between Colombia’s Caribbean coast and Aruba.
The Barranquilla service follows Wingo launching seasonal flights between Bucaramanga and Aruba on 17 June. The Bucaramanga route operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays until August 15.
With the addition of two routes, Wingo now connects Aruba with five cities in Colombia: Bogota, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga.
This is another boost to Aruba’s ongoing and successful efforts to grow tourism in neighboring South America.
A new link on Colombia’s Caribbean coast
Barranquilla has been receiving more international air service in recent years, and the new Wingo route provides a direct link between the Colombian city and Aruba.
The industrial and cultural center is one of the largest cities on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, with a metropolitan population of over 2 million. It is also home to Carnaval de Barranquilla, one of Latin America’s largest annual festivals.
The new route brings Aruba within short-haul nonstop flights from Barranquilla, giving residents of the city and surrounding Atlantico region a direct alternative to traveling via Bogota or other Colombian hubs.
The Aruba Airport Authority, Wingo, the Government of Aruba and the Aruba Tourism Board marked the route with a ceremony at Queen Beatrix International Airport following the inauguration ceremony.
The event included remarks by Aruba Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labor Wendrick Cicilia, Wingo executives and Aruba Airport Authority officials, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Our goal has always been to create purposeful connections that make a real impact in our community,” said Cicilia. “This new route between Barranquilla and Aruba not only strengthens our relationship with Colombia, but also creates new opportunities for tourism, business, medical and cultural exchange.”
5 cities in Colombia
Wingo’s Aruba network currently extends across several metropolitan areas in Colombia.
The airline already operates flights to the island from Bogota, Medellin and Cali. Barranquilla adds a major source market on Colombia’s northern coast, while Bucaramanga provides seasonal service in Colombia’s Santander region.
“With our new routes from Bucaramanga and Barranquilla to Aruba, Wingo is strengthening our position as the airline with the most connections between Aruba and Colombia,” said Jorge Jiménez, Vice President of Commercial and Network Planning at Wingo.
Jiménez said Aruba remains a key destination for the airline’s network, citing tourism, family and cultural ties between the two markets.
The Barranquilla route will operate all year round, giving Aruba a consistent presence in the market beyond the peak summer travel season.
The Bucaramanga service is currently scheduled for the summer route, with flights continuing until mid-August.
Why Colombia Matters to Aruba
Colombia has long been one of Aruba’s closest regional tourism markets.
Relatively short flight times, cultural connections and increasing airline capacity have made the island a popular international holiday option for visitors to Colombia. Aruba’s beaches, hotel inventory, shopping and dining scene have also helped the destination compete for travelers who choose the Colombian Caribbean, Mexico, Panama or the Dominican Republic.
The latest Wingo expansion will allow Aruba to attract more visitors from Colombian cities outside Bogotá, reducing the island’s dependence on a limited number of major gateways.
The new flights also support Aruba’s broader efforts to diversify its tourism base. Although the United States remains the island’s dominant source market, Aruba has been working to increase arrivals from Latin America, including Colombia, Argentina and Brazil.
“At Aruba Tourism, we strive to preserve and foster ‘Un Aruba dushi pa biba, ta un Aruba dushi pa bishita’, which is at the center of our strategy to connect residents with local families and guests while creating international business opportunities for the benefit of the community,” said Ronella Croes, CEO of Aruba Tourism.
The phrase Papiamento is broadly interpreted as the idea of keeping Aruba pleasant to live and visit.
More flights to Aruba
The addition of the two Wingos is part of the Aruba Airport Authority’s wider efforts to strengthen the island’s links with neighboring countries.
Regional air service plays a different role than the high-volume routes that connect Aruba with cities such as Miami, New York, Boston and Toronto. Flights to the Caribbean and northern South America can support shorter vacations, family trips, business trips and medical visits throughout the year.
“Developing and nurturing strategic air service partnerships remains a top priority,” said Barbara Brown, Chief Revenue Development and Communications Officer, Aruba Airport Authority.
Brown said the launches of Barranquilla and Bucaramanga reflect the airline’s confidence in the Aruba market and expand travel options for islanders and international visitors.
Wingo is a Colombian low-cost airline and a subsidiary of Copa Holdings. The airline operates a network of domestic and international routes originating from Colombia serving destinations throughout the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
The low-fare model could help Aruba reach a wider segment of Colombian travelers, especially families and young visitors looking for a short Caribbean vacation.
flight schedule
Flights between Aruba and Barranquilla operate every Thursday and Sunday throughout the year.
The seasonal Aruba-Bucaramanga route operates every Wednesday and Saturday until August 15.
The two services join Wingo’s existing Aruba flights from Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, giving the airline one of the most extensive Colombia-Aruba networks currently operated by a single airline.
This expansion will allow more Colombian travelers to reach Aruba directly from their hometowns, giving Aruban residents additional non-stop options throughout Colombia.
The first flight to Barranquilla suggests the market is ready to connect. The longer test will be whether demand remains strong a few weeks after opening and supports continued year-round service.
Wingo, which currently includes five Colombian gateways on its Aruba route map, is investing heavily in travel between the island and Colombia, providing another way for Aruba to grow beyond its traditional North American market.
