Puerto Rico's Airports: An Overview Of The Island's Aviation Infrastructure

Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, has several airports that connect it to the rest of the world. The primary international airport of Puerto Rico is the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, located in the beachfront resort and residential district of Isla Verde in the municipality of Carolina. The airport is about 4 to 7 miles from the business centre of Hato Rey, the resort area of Condado, and the historic quarter of Old San Juan. The island also has other airports, including the Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, the Mercedita International Airport in Ponce, and the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, also known as Aeropuerto de Isla Grande.

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, also known as San Juan Airport or Isla Verde International Airport, is the primary international airport of Puerto Rico. Located in the beachfront resort and residential district of Isla Verde in the municipality of Carolina, it is just 4 to 7 miles from the business centre of Hato Rey, the historic quarter of Old San Juan, and the resort area of Condado. The airport is about a 15-minute drive from the heart of San Juan and is the largest and busiest airport in Puerto Rico. It is also the busiest airport in the Caribbean, serving as a major gateway to the region, with around four million passengers travelling through yearly.

The airport is named after Luis Muñoz Marín, the first elected governor of Puerto Rico, and covers 1,600 acres of land. It has been in operation since 1955 and is owned by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority. As of 2024, it is the only privatised airport in the United States or its territories, with the government awarding a 40-year lease to Aerostar Airport Holdings in 2013. More than 20 commercial airlines fly in and out of the airport every day, with 80 daily nonstop flights to cities across the United States. Avelo Airlines, for example, offers daily flights from Lakeland/Orlando (LAL) to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).

In addition to its role as a busy airport, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport also offers a range of shopping and dining options for travellers. There are duty-free shops, as well as parking and transportation options available on-site. However, it is recommended that travellers arrive early to allow enough time for check-in and to explore the airport's amenities.

For those looking to fly to Puerto Rico's smaller islands, such as Culebra and Vieques, the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (also known as Aeropuerto de Isla Grande) is a better option. This single-runway airport offers daily flights through local airlines and private charters. Other small airports for private flights and charters can be found in Ceiba, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Fajardo, and Humacao.

Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN)

Puerto Rico has 19 public-use and military airports. One of them is the Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN), also referred to as the Rafael Hernández International Airport. It is located in the municipality of Aguadilla in the northwest of Puerto Rico. Named after the famous composer Rafael Hernández Marín, it is the second-largest airport in Puerto Rico in terms of passenger traffic. The airport covers an area of 1600 acres and has one runway, which is the longest in the Caribbean at 11,702 ft (2.2163 mi) long. The north side of the airport has a passenger terminal with an international side capable of handling flights of over 200 passengers. It also has the Main Cargo Terminal, the FedEx Terminal, and the General Aviation Terminal. The north side also houses the Copeca Jet Center Executive Terminal, five service hangars, and Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen.

Rafael Hernández Airport is a key link between Puerto Rico and the United States mainland. Almost half a million passengers pass through its modern facilities each year, on flights to Florida, New York, and other destinations in the USA, the Caribbean, and South America. The airport has been served by several passenger air carriers over the years, including American Airlines, Pan Am, and TWA. In 2010, the airport had two commercial passenger gates, but a master plan has been approved to redevelop the airport, involving an investment of $1 billion over 20 years. The plan includes expanding the airport to 30 commercial passenger gates and adding a second runway.

The airport is also home to a United States Coast Guard facility, the 141st Air Control Squadron, and several federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the US Border Patrol Ramey Sector.

Popular airlines that operate at the airport include Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines. The airport is located three miles from downtown Aguadilla and offers public parking, taxis, and transportation services for those who want to explore the Porta del Sol region.

Mercedita International Airport (PSE)

Puerto Rico has several airports, including the Mercedita International Airport (PSE). The airport is located in Ponce, one of the major cities in Puerto Rico. Built in 1939, Mercedita was originally a modest aerodrome used for the airborne irrigation of sugarcane fields belonging to Destilería Serrallés. The airport took the name of the sugarcane plantation it was part of, Hacienda Mercedita. The founder of the plantation, Juan Serrallés, had named it in honour of his wife, Mercedes.

Mercedita International Airport is a small commercial airport with just one runway. There are a few small duty-free shops, limited parking, and taxi and shuttle options to reach Ponce. The airport is located next to the Condado neighbourhood, closer to Old San Juan than the Isla Verde Airport. It is a great location for those travelling to the nearby islands of Vieques and Culebra.

The airport was formerly called Mercedita Airport, but on 1 November 1990, it was renamed "Mercedita International Airport" after the addition of customs and border control facilities. In 2005, JetBlue began daily, non-stop services between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Mercedita Airport. In the same year, Continental Airlines also commenced non-stop service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Ponce, although this service ended in 2008. Delta Connection also serviced the airport with twice-weekly flights to Atlanta, Georgia, from 2006 to 2007.

In 2007, the airport served 251,000 passengers, an increase of 28% from the previous year. Passenger movement in 2008 was 278,911, a 1,228% increase over fiscal year 2003 and the highest of all the regional airports for that 5-year period. The municipality of Ponce has been attempting to gain ownership of the airport from the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as it believes local management of the airport will boost the municipal and regional economy.

San Juan Airport

The airport has been in operation since 1955 and covers 1,600 acres of land. It offers hundreds of direct and nonstop flights to and from destinations worldwide daily. More than 20 commercial airlines fly in and out of the city each day, with 80 daily nonstop flights to cities across the United States. JetBlue Airways is the largest carrier in San Juan, with 51 daily flights on average.

The airport is owned by the Ports Authority but has been managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings since 2013 through a public-private initiative. San Juan Airport serves as a major hub for several airlines, including Cape Air, Air Sunshine, Silver Airways, and JetBlue. It offers convenient transportation options to nearby destinations, such as the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge to the San Juan district of Hato Rey, and the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway (PR-26) to Old San Juan.

Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport

Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, has 19 public-use and military airports. One of these is the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, also known as the Isla Grande Airport. This airport is located next to San Juan's Convention District, Old San Juan, and the Condado neighbourhood. It is particularly convenient for travellers flying to Puerto Rico's two island municipalities, Vieques and Culebra.

The Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport is named after United States Air Force Major Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci, an F-111 pilot who was killed in action during the 1986 airstrike of Libya. The airport covers an area of 102 acres at an elevation of 10 feet above mean sea level. It has a single runway designated 9/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 5,539 by 100 feet. The airport had 116,447 aircraft operations in the 12 months leading up to September 30, 2013, averaging 319 per day. At that time, 232 aircraft were based at the airport, with 33% single-engine, 37% multi-engine, 1% jet, 24% helicopter, and 6% military. The San Juan Army Aviation Support Facility, operated by the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, is the airport's only military site.

The Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport has been the site of several notable incidents. On December 21, 1991, a United Airlines Boeing 757 flight bound for San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport mistakenly landed at the airport. In another incident, on June 7, 1992, an Executive Air (for American Eagle) CASA 212 flying from the airport crashed short of the runway in Mayagüez, resulting in the deaths of both crew members and all three passengers. More recently, on July 4, 2017, an aircraft that had taken off from the airport crashed nearby at a bay.

The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Isla Verde, near San Juan, is Puerto Rico's largest and most accessible airport. It is the Caribbean's busiest airport and a popular choice for travellers visiting San Juan, the capital city. This airport accommodates hundreds of direct and non-stop flights daily from around the world, including 80 daily nonstop flights to cities across the United States. Other notable airports in Puerto Rico include the Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, the Mercedita International Airport (PSE) in Ponce, and the Rafael Hernández Marín International Airport, also located in Aguadilla.

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