Air Access to Puerto Rico, Caribbean Still Going Strong

On a day that was to mark the significant reduction of air access from the US mainland to Puerto Rico and other destinations in the Caribbean, the region is celebrating the addition of new flights and the preservation of routes that were slated for cancellation.

Through a series of negotiations and the implementation of an airline incentive program by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), the airline industry is once again looking to the Caribbean as a region with tremendous potential for revenue. For local businesses, especially those connected with the tourism industry, this is a much-needed vote of confidence.

“The cancellation of these flights was not just an issue for Puerto Rico, but for the entire Caribbean,” Terestella Gonzalez-Denton, executive director of PRTC said. “As the gateway to the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a conduit for travelers visiting other islands. Air access to the region is especially important to our hotel and cruise industries, and the consequences of limited air access would have had devastating results.”

In response to the threat of losing vital routes to Puerto Rico, the PRTC, in association with the government of Puerto Rico, set out to create programs that would entice airlines to retain and increase their service to the island.

PRTC has also embarked on an aggressive media campaign to sustain demand for flights to Puerto Rico and remind travelers that the island is still very much accessible. In addition, a co-op marketing program created by the PRTC will match every dollar, up to $3 million, that the airline industry spends in the promotion of travel to Puerto Rico.

In addition to the increase in air access to Puerto Rico, the added incentive for U.S. travelers is that there is no passport required for U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.