The Department of Civil Aviation of Aruba (DCAA) has officially revoked the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for charter airline Bestfly. The regulatory action, finalized on May 11 following an initial suspension on May 5, was taken after a period of additional regulatory evaluation focused on aviation safety and compliance supervision.
While the DCAA cited regulatory interests, representatives from Bestfly stated that the move was voluntary. Founders Nuno and Alcinda Pereira declared that the company independently decided to cease AOC operations in Aruba and formally requested the government to withdraw the certificate. According to the airline, the Minister of Transport was informed of this decision on May 8, leading to the official approval of the certificate’s withdrawal three days later.
The DCAA confirmed that certain aircraft previously operating under OPS-1 have now been transferred to OPS-2 operations. The authority emphasized that these actions demonstrate Aruba’s commitment to upholding the highest international standards of aviation safety and operational oversight. Bestfly, an Angolan operator founded in 2009, established its division in Oranjestad in 2017 to provide charter, maintenance, and handling services, primarily operating an Embraer 190 for flights connecting Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
