Best Airports To Fly Into Puerto Rico

what airports can you fly into puerto rico

Puerto Rico has more than 10 airports, including two major international airports and several regional and island airports. The largest and most accessible airport is the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, commonly known as the San Juan Airport (SJU). This airport is located in Isla Verde, in the municipality of Carolina, and is just minutes away from downtown San Juan. Other major airports include the Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla (BQN) and Mercedita Airport in Ponce (PSE).

Characteristics Values
Number of Airports More than 10, including 2 major international airports and several regional and island airports
Major Airports Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN), Mercedita Airport (PSE)
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Location San Juan, Carolina district, Isla Verde
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Facilities Restaurants, boutiques, duty-free
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Airlines JetBlue, Delta, United, American, Iberia, Southwest, Intercaribbean, Air Antilles, and more
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Destinations Puerto Rico, other islands in the Caribbean, major cities in the US, Madrid, Spain
Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) Location Aguadilla, northwest region of Puerto Rico
Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) Airlines JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, SKYhigh, private charters
Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) Destinations Orlando, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, mainland cities
Mercedita Airport (PSE) Location Ponce
Mercedita Airport (PSE) Airlines Frontier, JetBlue
Mercedita Airport (PSE) Destinations Orlando, New York City
Other Airports Ceiba, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Fajardo, Humacao, Isla Grande, Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport
Isla Grande Airport (SIG) Destinations Culebra, Vieques
Ceiba Airport (RVR) Destinations Culebra

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Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)

SJU is the ideal airport to fly into if you are planning on visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city, or other destinations in the east region of the island. If you are planning on spending your vacation in the south region, you may want to fly into Ponce airport instead.

SJU is easily accessible, with a quick identity verification system called CLEAR in place to streamline the security process. The airport also offers modern facilities, including restaurants and boutiques for shopping, as well as duty-free options when travelling back to the United States.

If you are travelling onwards to the offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra, you can catch a regional flight from SJU or opt for a flight from the Isla Grande Airport or Ceiba Airport, which offer more economical flight options to these destinations.

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Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN)

Puerto Rico has more than 10 airports, including two major international airports and several regional and island airports. One of the two major international airports is the Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, in the northwest region of Puerto Rico. Named after the composer Rafael Hernández Marín, it is the second-busiest airport in Puerto Rico in terms of passenger traffic. The airport covers an area of 1600 acres and has one runway, which, at 11,702 ft, is the longest in the Caribbean. The north side of the airport consists of a passenger terminal with an international side capable of handling flights of over 200 passengers. It also hosts 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.

In the 1990s, American Airlines, Pan Am II, and TWA joined the list of carriers serving the airport. Carnival Airlines operated Airbus A300 wide-body jet service to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, and Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1995, American Airlines operated daily nonstop flights to New York JFK airport using the Boeing 757-200. In the early 1990s, Carnival Airlines also operated the first intra-Puerto Rican jet service from the airport to Ponce with Boeing 727s and wide-body Airbus A300s.

In 2004, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority announced plans to remodel and expand BQN to accommodate more flights and passengers. The expansion was inaugurated on July 12, 2005, and included a new parking lot and an expansion of the terminal building. In 2010, the airport had two commercial passenger gates, but the master plan calls for a total of 30. There are also plans to expand the airport access road and add a second runway.

The airport is a key link between Puerto Rico and the United States mainland, with almost half a million passengers passing through its modern facilities each year. Major airlines such as JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and SKYhigh offer flights to Orlando and other mainland cities, as well as Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

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Mercedita Airport (PSE)

Puerto Rico has more than 10 airports, including two major international airports and several regional and island airports. Mercedita Airport (PSE) in Ponce is one of the international airports in Puerto Rico. It is ideal if you plan to spend most of your time in the south of the island.

Mercedita Airport was built in 1939 and was originally a modest aerodrome used for the airborne irrigation of sugarcane fields belonging to Destilería Serrallés. The airport took its name from the sugarcane plantation it was part of, Hacienda Mercedita. The founder of the plantation, Juan Serrallés, had named it after his wife, Mercedes.

The first scheduled commercial flights at Mercedita began in 1965, with international flights commencing in 1971. The airport has been enlarged several times over the years, including a major construction project in 1963 when the runway was extended from 3,000 feet (910 m) to 3,900 feet. In 2005, JetBlue began daily non-stop service between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Mercedita Airport.

Today, Mercedita Airport receives a handful of commercial flights from the mainland US, primarily serving cities like Orlando and New York. Frontier and JetBlue are among the airlines that operate these flights.

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Isla Grande Airport (SIG)

Puerto Rico has more than ten airports, including two major international airports and several regional and island airports. One of the island airports is Isla Grande Airport (SIG), also known as Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport. Isla Grande Airport is located next to the Condado neighbourhood and Old San Juan. It is Puerto Rico's primary reliever airport for the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Isla Grande Airport is the best option for travellers planning to explore Puerto Rico's smaller islands, such as Culebra and Vieques, or nearby Caribbean destinations. The airport is conveniently located for these destinations and offers hourly parking by the main entrance as well as public transportation options.

The airport is small, with only one runway, and a limited number of airlines flying through. Popular airlines include Vieques Airlink, Air Flamenco, and M&N Aviation. Isla Grande Airport is also used by private aviation and general aviation, with around 300 daily operations.

Isla Grande Airport was constructed by the U.S. Navy as Naval Air Station Isla Grande in 1929, prior to World War II. It served as Puerto Rico's main international airport until 1954 when Isla Verde International Airport (now Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport) was built. The airport was renamed in honour of United States Air Force Major Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci, who was killed in action in 1986.

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Ceiba Airport (RVR)

Ceiba Airport is a convenient option for those travelling to the nearby islands of Culebra and Vieques, as well as other Caribbean destinations. It is served by two airlines, Air Flamenco and Vieques Air Link, which offer non-stop flights to Culebra and Vieques, respectively. The airport also provides a direct flight to San Juan (Puerto Rico) operated by Air Flamenco. This 33-mile (53 km) route takes approximately 25 minutes.

When driving from the San Juan area, travellers can take Route 66 east to Route 3 east toward Fajardo. In the Fajardo area, Route 3 becomes Route 53. By taking Exit 2 before the first toll booth, travellers can then follow the signs to the airport. The drive from San Juan to Ceiba Airport is estimated to take around 75 to 90 minutes.

Ceiba Airport offers various services, including car rental options. Avis car rental provides a shuttle from the airport to their office outside the airport gate. Additionally, Carlos Jeep Rental offers a shuttle service to and from the ferry. For more information about the services at Ceiba Airport, travellers can call (787) 729-8715 or 787-534-4101.

Frequently asked questions

The main airports in Puerto Rico are Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN), and Mercedita Airport (PSE).

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, also known as San Juan Airport or Isla Verde International Airport, is located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, just minutes from downtown San Juan.

Airlines that fly to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport include JetBlue, Delta, United, American, Iberia, Southwest, Intercaribbean, and Air Antilles.

Other airports in Puerto Rico include Ceiba Airport (RVR), Isla Grande Airport (SIG), and Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport.

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