The Curaco Airport Partners launched a 30-year agreement to develop and operate the airport on Aug. 1, 2003. CAP opened the airport's new terminal on July 1, 2006, and sees 1.6 million passengers yearly. CAP's future goals for the airport include increasing terminal capacity to serve 2.5 million passengers a year.
Curacao International Airport is located approximately 40 miles from Venezuela, making it a convenient stop for planes headed to and from the Caribbean, according to the airport website. As of 2010, 19 different airlines operate at the airport, including American Airlines and Continental. The airport also offers a coffee shop, sports bar and an ice cream shop for travelers.
The airport accepts both American dollars and Antillean Guilders as acceptable forms of payment. Parking at the airport is fee based and offered near the terminal. According to the airport website, passengers should arrive for check-in two hours before a flight's scheduled departure time. Most passengers must pay an airport departure fee when traveling from the airport, though some airlines include the fee in the flight cost, including American Airlines and Continental.
