Puerto Rico Seeks New U.S., European Links

HONG KONG—San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) has posted strong traffic growth in 2025, rising 5.2% year over year through August and up 50% compared with 2019.

“By December we expect to have welcomed three new carriers into SJU this year: Aeromexico, Arajet and Contour,” Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s Air and Cruise Access Director Crystal J. Bell tells Routes. “These airlines help expand our international network, with new service to Mexico City, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Dominica.”

Aeromexico’s entry is a milestone, as Mexico City has been San Juan’s largest unserved international market. JetBlue Airways has also added Medellin, Colombia, its first South American service from Puerto Rico.

On the U.S. mainland side, JetBlue launched flights to Providence and Westchester County, N.Y., while Frontier Airlines added Washington Dulles service. Spirit Airlines has opened a San Antonio route, and Delta Air Lines will introduce seasonal Raleigh-Durham flights later this year.

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Bell says the Puerto Rico Tourism Company is prioritizing more U.S. growth, particularly in Texas and Tennessee. “We are focusing on expanding key domestic markets such as Austin and Nashville, as well as seeking West Coast service to Los Angeles and Phoenix,” she says.

International expansion is also high on the agenda. “London, Frankfurt and Lima are top of the list at the moment,” Bell adds.

At the same time, San Juan is seeking to rebuild regional connectivity following the collapse of Silver Airways in June. “Another priority is rebuilding intra-Caribbean connectivity,” she explains. “Caribbean Airlines and Contour have stepped up to backfill some of that, and we continue to work toward a full recovery.”

SJU currently averages 110 to 130 daily flights from 35 U.S. airports, providing extensive feed into the island. Partnerships with airlines, particularly through marketing programs, remain central to the route development strategy, Bell says, alongside leveraging San Juan’s role as the Caribbean’s leading cruise homeport.

While 2025 has brought headwinds, particularly with economic and political uncertainty in the U.S., Bell says that demand has steadied.

“Several carriers, particularly ULCCs, have seen slower business, so that slows our rate of growth,” Bell notes. “However, we remain focused on marketing Puerto Rico as a domestic destination with no passport required for Americans, while continuing to expand in international markets in order to diversify visitor origins.”