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From November 7 to November 11, the Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports (DCCA) organized “A Flight to the Future”, their first international sustainable air transportation event. This meant an entire week of presentations, panel discussions, masterclasses and workshops around related key themes, like building for sustainable tourism, the enormous potential of sustainable aviation, and the importance of optimal connectivity between the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. The ambitious event also included demonstration flights with the Pipistrel Velis Electro, the first certified electric aircraft in the world, at Aruba Airport.
Focus on improved inter-island connectivity
The “A Flight to the Future” event was organized by the DCCA primarily to place a spotlight on the potential of alternative air transportation and its importance for the Dutch Caribbean, both socially and economically. Therefore, the fact that the major airports from the Caribbean and European Netherlands have committed to better inter-island connectivity in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the event can be considered as a major success for the organizers. Together, the airports want to make air transportation more affordable, more efficient, and more sustainable. A historic milestone for the region and for all the parties involved, according to the DCCA.
Thanks to the signed MOU, the islands will have the chance to explore the options regarding the creation of affordable, efficient and sustainable air connections between Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Statia, and St. Maarten. The exploration of the use of emission-free motorized aviation forms the foundation of this new initiative. The Memorandum was signed by a total of 15 decision and policy makers from the six islands involved plus the European Netherlands. Together, they will form an action group and work on a joint business plan outlining how the various ambitious goals can be achieved. This document should be finished about seven months after the initial signing of the previously mentioned Memorandum of Understanding.
A Flight to the Future
If you’ve been following our publications in the past months, you’ll have noticed that the Dutch Caribbean region is working hard to become a global hub for sustainable aviation (i.e. electric aviation) innovation. In that light, the successful “A Flight to the Future” event was a very organic and relevant development for the region. The fact that it was attended by a varied mix of current and potential stakeholders, such as airport colleagues, airline executives, tourism authorities, education partners and environmental advocates, only adds to the success of the DCCA’s first international sustainable air transportation event.
“We are excited to welcome both local and international attendees from the Dutch Caribbean islands, The Netherlands and the (Latin) America region to share knowledge and create dialogue on the future of aviation and also on interisland connectivity in the Dutch Caribbean”, said Joost Meijs, CEO at Aruba Airport Authority NV and Chairman of the DCCA, in the official press release prior to the event, “We are honored to be able to host this event in Aruba and are more than proud to have the first electric flights in the Caribbean with the Pipistrel Velis Electro performed during that week”.
The basis for this article was originally published on www.curacao.nu and others in November 2022.
