About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Reina Beatrix International (AUA) to Washington Dulles International (IAD)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Oranjestad to Washington. Left wins both ends of the flight. During the cruise over the Caribbean and southeastern US, the left side also tracks closer to the Puerto Rico channel, the Hispaniola coastline if routing goes that way, and the Florida peninsula on the western horizon. It is the consistently better side for the full journey.
What can I see during takeoff from Reina Beatrix International in Oranjestad?
During takeoff from Reina Beatrix International (AUA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Aruba's main runway 11/29 means departures heading northwest toward the US will typically use runway 11, climbing out over the southern Caribbean. The left side gives you the best view back over Oranjestad, the salt flats of Bubali, and the island's western coastline as you bank north. The right side faces open ocean almost immediately. Notable sights include: Oranjestad harbor and downtown, Eagle Beach and Palm Beach resort strip, Bubali salt ponds, the rugged Arikok National Park interior.
What can I see when landing at Washington Dulles International in Washington?
When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically uses runways 01L/R or 19L/R depending on wind. Arrivals from the south-southeast on a northwesterly heading into runway 01 put the left side facing east toward Washington DC proper, the Potomac River, and the Virginia suburbs. You get a clear view of the DC skyline, the National Mall corridor, and the Potomac as you descend through 5,000-8,000 feet on final. Notable sights include: Washington DC skyline and National Mall corridor, Potomac River, Tysons Corner office cluster, Shenandoah Valley ridgelines to the west on right side.
How long is the flight from Oranjestad to Washington?
The flight from Reina Beatrix International (AUA) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours.
What does the Oranjestad to Washington flight path pass over?
The flight tracks north-northwest over the Caribbean Sea, passing west of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, then crosses Cuba or the Bahamas depending on routing, enters US airspace over Florida or the Carolinas, and follows the Eastern Seaboard corridor northward over the Carolinas and Virginia before descending into Dulles. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley are visible on the right side during the final descent.