The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport Of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico's main airport is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), located in Isla Verde, Carolina, just minutes away from San Juan. It is the biggest and busiest airport in the Caribbean, serving as the main point of entry to the island. With 25 airlines operating at SJU, it offers more than 80 daily nonstop flights to cities across the US and handles around 90% of Puerto Rico's total passenger volume. The airport has been named Medium Airport of the Year at the CAPA Global Aviation Awards for Excellence.

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)

SJU is the primary international airport of Puerto Rico, serving the capital municipality of San Juan and its metropolitan area. It is owned by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, a public-private partnership that was awarded a 40-year lease beginning in 2013. With around 30 airlines offering services, SJU offers more than 80 daily nonstop flights to cities across the U.S. and receives over 8 million passengers annually.

SJU offers a pleasant experience for passengers with a variety of tax-free shops and restaurants. The airport has one main terminal building with four concourses and a separate terminal with one concourse, all connected to each other. Terminal A houses The Lounge San Juan, a VIP airport lounge, along with Gates A1 through A8. Terminal B, a $40 million, 365,000-square-foot facility, was designed as a sole terminal for Eastern Airlines but now services over 30 domestic and international airlines. Terminal C was built as an expansion of Terminal B to accommodate the growth of American Airlines' Caribbean Hub. Terminal D is mostly used for small and regional aircraft operators, with five gates for regional flights and three gates for high-capacity scheduled and charter flights.

SJU has been recognised as the winner in the "Medium Airport of the Year" category at the prestigious CAPA Global Aviation Awards for Excellence in 2024. It is also the first and currently the only large airport in the USA to be successfully privatised under the FAA Airport Privatisation Pilot Program.

San Juan's busiest airport

With 12,197,553 million passengers in 2023, SJU is the busiest airport in the Caribbean and serves as a major gateway to the region. It is the primary international airport of Puerto Rico, offering 80 daily nonstop flights to cities across the US. The airport is owned by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and is managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, which operates under a public-private partnership.

SJU is easily accessible from the San Juan district of Hato Rey, the island's financial district, via the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge. For those coming from Old San Juan, the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway (PR-26) is the best route.

SJU has a variety of tax-free shops and restaurants for passengers to enjoy. It also has a separate terminal with one concourse, in addition to the main terminal building with four concourses. All terminals are connected, and the airport has both letter and number designations for gates and concourses.

The airport has a long history, with the government recognising the need for a new international airport in 1945. Construction was approved in 1946, and the project began in 1947. The airport was inaugurated on May 22, 1955, with a six-story passenger terminal, control tower, 7,800-foot runway, cargo building, and other facilities.

SJU has undergone numerous expansion and improvement projects over the years, including the addition of a second runway in 1974 and the construction of a new Terminal A, which opened in 2012.

Airlines serving SJU

San Juan Airport (SJU), officially known as Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, is the main airport in Puerto Rico. It is the island's main point of entry and is the biggest and busiest airport in the Caribbean. The airport is located in the beachfront district of Isla Verde in the municipality of Carolina, just minutes away from San Juan.

SJU offers around 150 daily departures, connecting passengers to more than 30 direct destinations worldwide. The airport is served by a variety of major airlines, including:

• American Airlines: A leading global airline with a significant presence at SJU, offering upwards of 50 daily departures to key cities in the United States.
• JetBlue Airways: A prominent low-cost carrier that operates over 40 daily flights to destinations such as Boston, Fort Lauderdale, and New York.
• Southwest Airlines: Known for its customer-friendly policies, Southwest operates over 10 daily flights from SJU, providing connections to cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and Orlando.
• Delta: Provides connections to major US cities, including Atlanta and New York, and is known for its exceptional customer service and in-flight amenities.
• Spirit Airlines: A budget airline offering affordable flights to the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
• United: Offers comprehensive service to numerous destinations with an extensive route network and is a member of the Star Alliance.
• Air Canada: Canada's largest airline, providing direct flights to Toronto and Montreal, as well as international connections.

In addition to these carriers, SJU is also served by other airlines such as Sun Country Airlines, Lan Ecuador Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and World Atlantic Airlines, among others. The airport has one main terminal building with four concourses and a separate terminal with one concourse, ensuring efficient travel for its passengers.

SJU's history

Puerto Rico's main airport, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), is located in Isla Verde, Carolina, just minutes away from San Juan. It is the largest and busiest airport in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, serving as the main point of entry to the island.

The government decided on Isla Verde (Carolina) as the location for the new airport, and construction was approved by the Puerto Rico Planning Board in 1946, beginning in 1947. The design was carried out by the firm Toro-Ferrer, founded by architects Miguel Ferrer and Osvaldo Toro. The first phase of construction, including cleaning, filling, levelling, and drainage of soils, was completed in 1949, and the second phase, including paving the runway, taxiways, and platforms, commenced.

The new Puerto Rico International Airport was inaugurated on May 22, 1955, by then-Governor Luis Muñoz Marín, with great enthusiasm from the public. The airport had a six-story passenger terminal, control tower, 7,800-foot runway, cargo building, fire and police stations, and a hotel. In its first year, the airport handled 694,199 passengers and 28 million pounds of cargo.

Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansion and improvement projects to accommodate increasing passenger and cargo traffic. A second runway was constructed between 1967 and 1974, and the original runway was reinforced, widened, and repaved. In 1983, a two-level vehicular access system was built to separate arrivals and departures and improve traffic flow.

In 1985, the airport was officially named Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in honour of Puerto Rico's first elected governor. The airport has served as a hub for several major airlines and has seen continuous growth in passenger traffic.

In 2013, the airport was privatised and is now managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, with a focus on modernising and expanding its facilities and services. Today, SJU handles over 12 million passengers annually and offers nonstop flights to cities across the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.

Other Puerto Rico airports

Puerto Rico has several other airports besides the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, which serves as the main international gateway to the island. Here is an overview of some of the other airports in Puerto Rico:

Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN)

The Rafael Hernández Airport, also known as Rafael Hernández Marín International Airport, is the second-largest airport in Puerto Rico. It is located in Aguadilla, in the northwest region of the island, and serves as the main gateway to the Porta del Sol. This airport is named after one of Puerto Rico's famous composers. It offers public parking, as well as taxi and transportation services for visitors. Popular airlines operating at this airport include Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Prinair Charter, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines.

Mercedita International Airport (PSE)

Mercedita International Airport is the third-largest airport in Puerto Rico and is located just outside of Ponce, in the southern region of the island. It was originally built for airborne irrigation of sugarcane. This airport has a small commercial operation with just one runway and a few duty-free shops. Frontier and JetBlue are among the airlines that fly to and from Ponce.

Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport

Also known as the Isla Grande Airport or Aeropuerto de Isla Grande, this airport is located next to the Condado neighbourhood and is closer to Old San Juan than the Isla Verde Airport. It is ideal for those travelling to the smaller islands of Vieques and Culebra. This airport has only one runway and a limited number of airlines operating through it. Hourly parking and public transportation options are available. Popular airlines include Vieques Airlink, Air Flamenco, and M&N Aviation.

Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport

This airport is one of the eight largest airports in Puerto Rico, but specific information about its location and facilities is currently unavailable.

Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport

This airport is also among the eight largest airports in Puerto Rico, but further details about its location and facilities are not readily available.

In addition to these airports, Puerto Rico also has smaller airports for private flights and charters in several locations, including Ceiba, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Fajardo, and Humacao.

Frequently asked questions