Puerto Rico Tourism Company working feverishly to ensure air access

In response to the recent announcement of decreasing flights to the Caribbean region, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) has been working feverishly to ensure that the Island continues to grow in

In response to the recent announcement of decreasing flights to the Caribbean region, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) has been working feverishly to ensure that the Island continues to grow in air access. Working along with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, PRTC is further promoting tourism to not only the island, but to the entire Caribbean region.

As the Caribbeanโ€™s main hub, San Juanโ€™s Luis Marin Muรฑoz International Airport (LMM) handled over 10.4 million passengers in 2007. To maintain and increase that figure in 2008, the Puerto Rico Port Authority has decided to increase their marketing and sales efforts with a series of ongoing meetings with the airlines as well as by creating incentives for carriers to maintain their presence at LMM. These incentives include a discount between 15 and 45 percent for gate rentals and landing fees, as well as passenger fees when airlines increase passenger traffic numbers for slow months such as September, October and February. Furthermore, the Ports Authority has agreed to not increase airport fees for the upcoming year.

Between the months of September through December, additional flights to San Juan will be added by Delta, Jet Blue, Continental and Air Tran airlines with flights departing from New York-JFK, Boston, New Jersey, Baltimore, Orlando and Atlanta.

PRTC is also negotiating with Spirit Airlines to reach an agreement that will result in additional flights between San Juan and Orlando, Miami and New York. As of now, tourism officials are very optimistic regarding the outcome of these discussions and hope to have good news for travelers regarding expanded services soon.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...