In the third of a three-part feature, Routesonline takes a closer look at the individuals shortlisted in three categories of the World Routes Awards 2019.
While the sun was shining on San Juan yesterday morning Routes Americas delegates were given the opportunity to enjoy an escorted tour through the areas of Isla Verde, Condado, past Fort San Gerónimo and on into Old San Juan, one of the most beautiful old cities in the New World.
Delegates who arrived early in San Juan for Routes Americas were able to travel to the south side of San Juan Harbor, where they entered the beautifully manicured grounds of the Bacardí Rum Distillery, the world’s largest distiller of natural spirits.
This Routes Americas edition of our occasional ‘Flashback’ series has been produced by our Airline Route blog to highlight the transition of air services at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the largest airport in the Caribbean region and gateway to San Juan, Puerto Rico and host of this year’s forum.
San Juan is unlike any other Caribbean market because it has significant outbound travel. With an estimated five million Puerto Ricans living on the US mainland, there is a thriving ‘visiting friends and family’ market. Puerto Rico has the most competitive economy in Latin America and the pharmaceutical and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industries generate substantial outbound traffic. A strong cruise industry means that Puerto Rico benefits from a year-round aviation market with very little seasonal variation.
The market from Europe to Puerto Rico is currently massively underserved, with a significant percentage of indirect passengers already flying between the two markets. In the past 12 months this market size was an estimated 150,000 passengers, with 87 per cent having to travel indirect due to the current limited direct offering across the Atlantic.
