Appointed Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR), Carlos Mercado Santiago, offered today an update on the gradual recovery of air traffic in Puerto Rico, highlighting important progress in reactivating routes between the island and major destinations in Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean.
“Recovering and strengthening air access to Puerto Rico is one of the priorities we have outlined in the plan to gradually reopen the destination of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. In this sense, the preparation for the gradual reactivation of international flights is a step forward “, said Mercado Santiago. “Puerto Rico is a key bridge that connects the United States and Europe to the Caribbean region, so one of the main goals of our air access division is to further facilitate the resumption of flight operations by the end of 2021, in a safe place and responsibility and compliance with the new protocols needed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic ”.
The chief appointed for tourism stressed that both Copa and Avianca have already resumed flights to San Juan, serving Panama and Bogota respectively. Copa operates four flights a week, while Avianca covers the San Juan route three times a week.
In the case of European airlines, the Spanish flag carrier Iberia is expected to resume flights between Madrid and San Juan in the second quarter of 2021, with between three and five weekly flights. Similarly, the German airline Condor announced last weekend that it would resume its non-stop route from Frankfurt to San Juan, with a weekly flight every Saturday in November 2021. Condor customers can now make reservations through the website the airline.
Another important international destination for the island is Canada. Prior to the pandemic, three airlines (Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat) operated non-stop flights during the winter season from Toronto and Montreal to Puerto Rico. Mercado pointed out that the recovery of the Canadian market has been delayed, given the severe restrictions imposed on Canadians returning to their country and the prolonged cessation of cruise industry operations. All airlines have committed to the destination with the adjustment of control measures.
For his part, the Director of Air and Maritime Access of CTPR, Alejandro Caicedo, He stated that “We are in constant communication with our international partners in order to support their operations in Puerto Rico and regain their seating capacity. Although the pandemic reduced international traffic to and from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport by 70% in 2020, we see several positive developments, with the resumption of operations of major airlines, mainly in Central and South America.
The Caribbean market is also recovering, after major destinations such as the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands began to reopen. Currently, the service has been re-established in about fifteen Caribbean destinations, with over seven airlines serving the region, albeit with a significant reduction in capacity.
In accordance with the governor’s commitment Pedro Pierluisi To continue to promote Puerto Rico’s economic development, CTPR is working hand in hand with the Department of Health, the Port Authority, the Federal Government and Aerostar Airport Holdings on plans to gradually reopen the destination, with a health focus and responsible tourism.
“In addition to airlines already serving the destination, we continuously assess air traffic trends in order to identify new international markets that will open as soon as market conditions allow. As part of our efforts, we work to improve infrastructure tourism, reactivate and renovate attractions. and, together with Discover Puerto Rico, resumes the positioning of our destination in strategic markets “, concluded Mercado Santiago.
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