Puerto Rico resumes international flights and expands air capacity post-pandemic

The government meeting on June 8, 2021, highlighted significant developments in Puerto Rico's tourism sector, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. From January to April 2021, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport welcomed 1,534,893 travelers, with April alone seeing 378,000 arrivals, surpassing figures from 2019, a benchmark year for tourism on the island.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Puerto Rico has increased its air capacity compared to 2019. Regional airports, including Rafael Hernández in Aguadilla and Mercedita in Ponce, resumed commercial flights on April 1, 2021, after nearly a year of inactivity. Mercedita is set to operate a limited schedule with flights to Orlando, while Rafael Hernández has also restarted operations, with Spirit Airlines resuming flights on April 14.

JetBlue and United Airlines have initiated daily flights to New York and Newark, respectively, while Spirit has begun daily services to Orlando. These developments are part of a broader strategy to revitalize the tourism industry.

Additionally, during the International Tourism Fair (Pitur) held from May 19 to 23 in Marguíz, Spain, agreements were made to launch direct flights between Madrid and San Juan starting July 2, 2021. A collaborative effort was also established to promote Puerto Rico as a travel destination in Spain. Furthermore, a partnership with the World Travel and Tourism Council was announced to host a Sustainability and Investment Summit in Puerto Rico in December 2021.

In summary, the meeting underscored a proactive approach to restoring and enhancing Puerto Rico's tourism sector, with new flight routes and international collaborations aimed at boosting travel to the island.