What’s On The Horizon For: Curacao-Hato International Airport

Speaking during Routes Americas 2025, Curacao-Hato International Airport told Routes about its latest successes and key markets for air service development growth.

Curaçao-Hato International Airport (CUR) enjoyed a record year in 2024, surpassing 2.03 million passenger movements, a 24% increase compared to 2023. As a tourism-dependent island destination, CUR works closely with its tourism board, which also reported a milestone of more than 700,000 stay-over visitors last year, a 20% rise from 2023.

The airport’s growth was fueled by a strategy focused on boosting seat capacity and improving load factors on existing routes. To diversify inbound traffic, CUR implemented targeted marketing campaigns and collaborated with airline partners, leading to expanded services from South America, Canada and the U.S.

Among the highlights, Azul Airlines doubled its flights from Belo Horizonte International Airport (CNF) to four times per week, Delta Air Lines upgraded its Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ( (ATL) service to daily, and Air Canada added frequencies to its seasonal Montréal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) route.

CUR also welcomed new routes, including Wingo’s 2X-weekly seasonal flights from Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) and Azul boosting its offering with a 4X-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Speaking at Routes Americas 2025, Peggy Croes, senior vice president of aviation market development at CUR, outlined the airport’s strategy for continued growth. Curaçao expects a 50% increase in hotel room capacity between 2025 and 2027, driving demand for additional air service. Croes said the airport is working with existing airline partners and potential new entrants to capitalize on this tourism growth.

Croes identified the U.S. West Coast as a key target, citing the potential for new aircraft types to unlock further opportunities. She also highlighted South America, saying that there is the strong potential for further routes alongside the existing solid capacity from Bogotá, Brazil and Panama.

CUR is a long-standing Routes 360 member and uses the platform to promote its latest developments directly to airlines. On the value of the membership, Croes said: “It is a dedicated air service development platform. Airlines know that it is industry related which makes it a far easier and pragmatic way to keep the airlines on top of what is going on as far as expansion or capacity. It allows us to give airlines a whole picture and be very candid about it.”

She added: “It has been a truly wonderful Routes; it definitely is better in The Bahamas!”