KLM Seeks to Snare More of the UK Market for Aruba Holidays

Great news for UK travellers seeking out cheap holidays in Aruba this week, after Dutch airline KLM announced that it will begin year-round flights to the the sun-kissed Caribbean isle from the end of the month.

Starting on 30 October, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will begin its flights to Aruba from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with connecting flights available from 15 hubs across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

The expanded service coincides with the start of KLM’s winter schedule, with the frequency increasing from twice to five times a week – on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights depart Schiphol at 12:45pm, meaning that the Aruba holidays can begin soon after the planes touch down on the island at 17:50.

KLM hopes that the new year-round service will enable it to compete with the various US airlines, plus Britain’s own flag carrier British Airways, who already operate flights to Aruba 12 months a year.

Formerly both a Spanish and a Dutch colony, Aruba is still part of the Dutch Antilles, and is increasingly well-known among tourists for its white sandy beaches on its southern and western coasts, which are perfect for a lazy Caribbean holiday. As Aruba Tourism Authority UK director Joanna Walding says: “With temperatures rarely dipping below 28°C, the island is the perfect destination for some winter sun.”

Aruba is also a great destination for adventure holidays, with water sports and diving available around the coast, and hiking trips possible inland. US dollars are accepted across the island, making currency exchange cheap and simple. For the more sophisticated visitor, the capital Oranjestad is an attractive Dutch colonial town, with great shops, casinos and nightclubs.

Aruba’s reputation has grown fast over the past 10 years, and it is now considered one of the top 10 Caribbean destinations among UK travellers. Hopefully KLM’s extended service will now make it available to even more of them.