AUAAirport

Queen Beatrix International Airport

Aruba's only airport, 10 to 15 min from Palm and Eagle Beach

LocationOranjestad

Terminals1

Passengers~3 million

IATA Code

AUA

Location

Oranjestad

Terminals

Gates

Single terminal

Runways

WiFi

Free wifi is available for passengers throughout the terminal.

Duty Free

Available

Currency Exchange

Available

Year Opened

1972

Annual Passengers

~3 million

Lounges

Departure lounges are available, including a US pre-clearance area for United States-bound passengers, with paid lounge access options for eligible and premium-cabin travellers.

Peak Hours

Busiest around the US-bound morning departure waves, when pre-clearance fills up, and during the high-season winter and spring-break months.

The overview

Queen Beatrix International Airport

<p>Queen Beatrix International Airport, carrying the airport code <strong>AUA</strong>, is Aruba's only commercial airport and the gateway for almost every visitor to the One Happy Island. It sits just southeast of the capital, <a href='/destinations/oranjestad'>Oranjestad</a>, a short drive from the cruise harbour, the colourful Dutch colonial streets and the island's calm leeward beaches, so you can clear arrivals and be standing on the sand the same afternoon.</p><p>Despite serving a small island, AUA is one of the busiest airports in the Dutch Caribbean, with nonstop service from across the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, South America and other Caribbean hubs. The single modern terminal handles a steady stream of long-haul and regional jets, which means fewer connections and a real chance of a single-flight arrival from many North American and European cities.</p><h3>US pre-clearance</h3><p>One feature sets AUA apart: it has a <strong>United States Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facility</strong>. Passengers on US-bound flights complete American immigration and customs in Oranjestad before they board, so when you land back in the United States you arrive as a domestic passenger and skip the customs queues. Allow extra time at departure for this process, and follow your airline's check-in cut-off carefully.</p><h3>The terminal</h3><p>The terminal is bright, air-conditioned and easy to navigate. Inside you will find duty-free and souvenir shops, cafes and bars, ATMs that dispense local Aruban florins, currency exchange, free passenger wifi and a row of car-rental desks. Staff and signage switch comfortably between Papiamento, Dutch, English and Spanish, so language is rarely an obstacle.</p><h3>Getting to Palm Beach and Eagle Beach</h3><p>Taxis wait outside arrivals and use fixed government-set rates marked TX rather than meters, so the fare is agreed before you set off. The ride to the resort strip is short: roughly 10 to 15 minutes to <a href='/destinations/eagle-beach'>Eagle Beach</a> and <a href='/destinations/palm-beach'>Palm Beach</a> in <a href='/destinations/noord'>Noord</a>, and only a few minutes into central Oranjestad. The Arubus public bus also runs from the airport into town and up the hotel zone for a budget fare, with the main hub beside the cruise terminal in the capital.</p><p>Renting a car is popular for reaching the wilder corners of the island and you drive on the right here. From the airport it is an easy run to the leeward coves at <a href='/beaches/arashi-beach'>Arashi Beach</a> and <a href='/beaches/boca-catalina'>Boca Catalina</a>, the <a href='/attractions/california-lighthouse'>California Lighthouse</a>, and the rugged interior of <a href='/parks/arikok-national-park'>Arikok National Park</a>. Aruba sits well outside the hurricane belt, so flights arrive into reliably warm, dry and breezy weather almost year-round, cooled by steady trade winds.</p>

Before you fly

Complete your Embarkation/Disembarkation Card

Travelers to Aruba should fill out the online Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Card before arrival. It is quick, free, and saves time at passport control in Oranjestad. Read our entry requirements and arrival guides.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How far is Queen Beatrix International Airport from Palm Beach and Eagle Beach?

The airport sits just southeast of Oranjestad. Eagle Beach is about a 10 minute drive and the Palm Beach high-rise hotel strip in Noord is roughly 12 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic. Central Oranjestad is only a few minutes away, so transfers on Aruba are short and most resorts are within about 15 to 20 minutes of the terminal.

What is the US pre-clearance facility at Aruba airport?

AUA has a United States Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facility. If you are flying to the United States you clear American immigration and customs here in Aruba before boarding, then arrive in the US as a domestic passenger with no customs queue on the far end. Give yourself extra time before your flight and respect your airline's check-in cut-off, as the process adds steps at departure.

How much is a taxi from the airport and are they metered?

Aruban taxis are not metered. They use fixed government-set rates, and airport cabs are marked with a TX licence, so the fare for your destination is set in advance rather than negotiated. It is still worth confirming the price with the driver before you set off. Fares are per car rather than per person within the stated limit, and there may be small surcharges late at night or for extra luggage.

Is there a public bus from the airport into town?

Yes. The Arubus public bus serves the airport and runs into Oranjestad and up to the Palm Beach hotel area for a low flat fare, which makes it the cheapest way into town. Buses are comfortable and air-conditioned but run to a timetable and carry limited luggage space, so for a group with bags a taxi or rental car is usually easier. The main bus hub is beside the cruise terminal in the capital.

Can I rent a car at the airport, and which side do they drive on?

Yes, several car-rental companies have desks at the terminal, and a car is the easiest way to reach the leeward coves, the California Lighthouse and Arikok National Park. Aruba drives on the right-hand side, which is familiar to most North American and continental European visitors. Main roads are good, but the rough windward coast and parts of Arikok need a four-wheel drive, so match your vehicle to your plans.

Is there free wifi, ATMs and currency exchange at AUA?

The terminal offers free passenger wifi, ATMs and currency exchange. The local currency is the Aruban florin, code AWG, pegged at about 1.79 to the US dollar. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere on the island, so you do not need to change much, and ATMs can dispense florins for smaller local payments and tips.

Is there duty-free shopping and food in the terminal?

Yes. The departures area has duty-free and souvenir shops, with local rum, Balashi beer and Aruba Ariba cocktail mixes among the popular buys, along with cafes and bars for a meal or drink before your flight. The selection is comfortable for an island airport, though it is smaller than a major hub, so do any serious shopping in Oranjestad if you want a wider choice.

What language do staff speak at the airport?

Aruba is multilingual, so airport staff and signage move easily between Papiamento and Dutch, which are the official languages, plus English and Spanish, which are widely spoken. Most visitors find they can get through arrivals, pre-clearance, taxis and car rental entirely in English without any difficulty.