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LOCAL Thursday 2 February 2023

Task Force installed for improving air travel in the Dutch Caribbean

Shaping and implementing the shared vision of the DCCA

ORANJESTAD – On No- The progress of the Task Joost Meijs, CEO of Aruba
vember 7, 2022, the his- Force will be overseen Airport Authority N.V. and
toric milestone of signing by a Progress Commit- chairman of the DCCA: “It
a Memorandum of Under- tee, which will consist of is great to see that collec-
standing (MOU) between the Kingdom Countries tively we have been able to
Dutch Caribbean islands, Croes (Curacao Airport), nological advancements Aviation Steering Group define a strong Task Force
the Netherlands, the six both for business develop- or otherwise; (‘Regiegroep Luchtvaart with aviation professionals
airports of the Dutch Carib- ment, Mrs. Christine Dries- 3. Recommendations on voor de Koninkrijkslanden’) from the Caribbean and
bean and the Dutch Asso- sen (Bonaire Airport) for air- necessary changes of laws, and the CEO’s of the international world. I am
ciation of Airports was cel- port infrastructure/charg- regulations and policy per- DCCA airports. The Dutch convinced that together
ebrated. ing stations and standards, taining to the end goal; Civil Airports Association and with the support of all
and Mr.Vishal Oedjaghir 4. Recommendations on (‘Nederlandse Vereniging islands and countries of the
This MOU formalizes a com- (St Eustatius Airport/Saba how to make interisland van Luchthavens’) will also Dutch Kingdom we will im-
mitment of this partnership Airport) as PSO expert. As travel more affordable for appoint a representative in prove the interisland con-
to explore and establish such all islands of the Dutch the public. the Progress Committee. nectivity in all aspects”.q
affordable, efficient, and Kingdom are duly repre-
sustainable air connectivity sented and will be working
between Curacao, Aruba, on reaching the end goal
St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. of the MOU signed back in
Eustatius, and Saba and, November of 2022.
more specifically, to ex-
plore and stimulate the Task Force deliverables
use of emission-free pow- Before the end of 2023,
ered flights to operate the this Task Force will deliver
aforementioned air con- a Joint Strategic Plan with,
nectivity. besides a clear indication
how to reach the end goal
DCCA Task Force of a more affordable, effi-
As agreed in the MOU, all cient and sustainable inter-
CEO’s of the DCCA (Dutch island connectivity network
Cooperation of Caribbean with a concrete timeline
Airports) recently deter- and milestones, the follow-
mined the constellation ing deliverables:
of the Task Force. This Task 1. The feasibility and estab-
Force will be tasked with lishment of an interisland
developing a Joint Strate- innovation center for sus-
gic Plan (JSP) for improving tainable aviation, to stimu-
the interisland connectiv- late and facilitate the use
ity. of zero emission powered
flights for air connectivity
The Task Force will include between these islands;
aviation experts and pro- 2. Possibilities, means and
fessionals with at its core measures to achieve a
Mrs. Marieke Smit (Royal smooth, seamless and ef-
Schiphol Group) as Pro- ficient flow of passengers
gram Manager, Mrs. Suzy on interisland flights at the
Kartokromo (St. Maarten airports of the CAS and BES
Airport) as assistant Pro- islands, including easing
gram Manager, Mrs. Jo- the entry/exit requirements
Anne Meaux-Arends (Aru- by use of biometrics and
ba Airport) and Mrs. Peggy digital identification tech-