Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport

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Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport
IATA: VQS - ICAO: TJVQ
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Puerto Rico Ports Authority
Serves		Vieques
Elevation AMSL		49 ft (14.9 m)
Coordinates		18°08′05.32″N, 65°29′37.02″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
9/27	4,301	1,311	Asphalt

Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (IATA: VQS, ICAO: TJVQ) is a small commercial air facility on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Because a large amount of Vieques' yearly revenue comes from the tourism industry, this small airport plays an important part in Vieques' economic outlook.

The airport has been for decades the hub of Vieques Air Link, and also a landing facility for a number of small airlines.

[edit] History

When anti-military demonstrators started flocking into Vieques, both by air and sea, in 1999, Vieques Airport saw a considerable increase to its normal yearly average of passengers. In addition, many celebrities who travelled from all over Puerto Rico and Latin America to join the protesters arrived at Vieques through this airport. When Carla Tricoli, a Vieques native, won the 2002 Miss Puerto Rico contest, her first flight as a beauty queen landed at Vieques Airport.

The airport does not accept jet aircraft, but a couple of international flights operate from it. Most of the commercial aviation operations are concentrated on domestic flights such as Vieques to Fajardo, Vieques to Isla Grande Airport and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, both in San Juan. Air ambulance flights to Fajardo are also available.

Early in 2005, plans were announced to expand the airport's lone runway, so that the airport can accept flights by smaller jets. This would be done in preparation for American Eagle to start operations to the airport.