Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Puerto Rico Ports Authority
Operator Aerostar Airport Holdings
Serves San Juan, Puerto Rico
Location Carolina, Puerto Rico
Hub for

Passenger

Cargo

Focus city for
Elevation AMSL 9 ft / 3 m
Coordinates 18°26′21″N 066°00′07″W / 18.43917°N 66.00194°W / 18.43917; -66.00194Coordinates: 18°26′21″N 066°00′07″W / 18.43917°N 66.00194°W / 18.43917; -66.00194
Website www.aeropuertosju.com
Map
TJSJ

Location in Puerto Rico

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
8/26 10,400 3,170 Asphalt
10/28 8,016 2,443 Concrete
Statistics (2012)
Aircraft operations 156,679
Passenger movement 8,488,172
Based aircraft 88
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]
Operations from the FAA[2]
passengers from the Puerto Rico Ports Authority

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (IATA: SJU, ICAO: TJSJ, FAA LID: SJU) (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín, unofficially known as Isla Verde International Airport/Aeropuerto Internacional de Isla Verde) is a joint civil-military international airport named for Puerto Rico's first democratically elected governor and located in suburban Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles (five kilometres) southeast of San Juan. It is the busiest airport in the Caribbean region by passenger traffic. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to the Federal Aviation Administration.[3]

The airport is owned by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, a public–private partnership which was awarded a lease by the government of Puerto Rico to operate and manage the airport for 40 years beginning in 2013.[4] SJU is the second international airport to be privatized in the United States and its territories, and, as of 2013, is the only currently privatized airport in the nation.[5] Taxis and rental cars can transport travelers to and from the airport. The airport serves as a gateway to the Caribbean islands.

History

In 1945, aware of the importance of aviation for the development of the economy of Puerto Rico, the island government had pointed out the need to build an international airport capable of handling the growing air traffic of San Juan International Airport, in Isla Grande, that had been operating since 1929; as well as responding to the needs of the future. Until then Isla Grande had been the main airport of Puerto Rico. As airlines began switching from propeller aircraft to jets, the 4,000-foot Isla Grande airstrip did not have the necessary distance for modern aircraft to land and take off. (The Isla Grande Airport, now named in honor of Maj. Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci, Pilot of the US Air Force F-111, who was killed-in-action in Libya in 1986, currently has a runway of 5,542 feet in length.)

On the other hand, the government had also decided that it should direct the air operations, relying these powers in the Puerto Rico Transportation Authority, created in 1942, which later became the Ports Authority. The Committee of Airports of the Planning Board began to study the feasibility of the new airport, submitting in 1944 its plans and studies to the Federal Civil Aeronautics Administration, to determine the most appropriate place.

In 1945, it was determined that the place would be Isla Verde (Carolina), to make the airport a metropolitan facility. Construction was approved by the Puerto Rico Planning Board in 1946, and the project began in 1947. During that same year, the Port Authority of Puerto Rico assumed title to and ownership of the Isla Grande Airport and other regional airports, which had been military installations during World War II.

The design of the new airport was carried out by the firm of Toro-Ferrer, founded by the architects Miguel Ferrer (1914–2004), and architect Osvaldo Toro (1914–1995), which were also known for their designs of the Caribe Hilton Hotel and the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.

During 1949, the first phase of construction of the Isla Verde Airport was completed: cleaning, filling, leveling and drainage of soils. The second phase also began: paving the runway, taxiways, and platforms.

The certified airlines operating in Puerto Rico in 1950 were Pan American World Airways, Eastern Airlines, Riddle Aviation Co., Caribbean Atlantic Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Dominican Airlines and Flying Tigers Airline. The latter contracted the movement of migrant workers to the United States, with the Insular Department of Labor, transferring some 5,706 workers to different points of that nation, at a cost of $55 per passage.

On May 22, 1955, the Puerto Rico International Airport was inaugurated, built on a 1,718.72 acre land lot. The facilities, estimated at a cost of $22 million, had a six-story passenger terminal, control tower, 7,800-foot long runway (8–26), cargo building, fire and police stations, and a hotel.

Hundreds of people, enthusiastic about the new aerial installation, witnessed the inaugural events presided over by Luis Muñoz Marín. In a part of his eloquent speech, the Governor said: "Impressive is this work in its structure and in its many facilities, but not as impressive as the fact that this center of communications symbolizes the great technical processes that are transforming civilization."

The first year of operations of the new airport produced an upward movement of passengers to 694,199 and a total of 28 million pounds of cargo was handled.

Evolution of the airport

By 1959, major airlines had introduced jets, which significantly reduced flight time and increased flight cruising safety. At the start of operations, the airport had only one runway (8/26), the old control tower on top of the Hotel, 3 terminals and a parking lot for 200 cars.

During the beginning of the 60s, several expansion and improvement projects began, starting with the runway extending from 7,800 to 10,000 feet in length. Construction of the second runway (10–28) on the south side began in May 1967. The project was completed in 1974 at an approximate cost of $4.2 million. With the introduction of the 747 aircraft, runway 8–26 was reinforced and widened in 1974, and ten years later it was repaved.

On January 17, 1983, the two-leveled vehicular access system was built at a cost of approximately $9.2 million. This access separates the arrivals and departures of passengers at different levels, to eliminate traffic congestion.

On February 18, 1985, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Rafael Hernández Colón, converted to law the project to Senate Number 1, officially designating the international airport under the name of Luis Muñoz Marín, in honor of the first governor of Puerto Rico elected by the people.

The airport served as a hub for Pan Am, Trans Caribbean Airways, Eastern Airlines, and for a short period a focus city for TWA. It was also the center for Puerto Rico's international airline, Prinair, from 1966 to 1984, when Prinair went bankrupt. In 1986, American Airlines together with American Eagle established a center in Puerto Rico to compete with Eastern Air Lines. In the past, the airport has been served by Mexicana de Aviación, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, British Caledonian, Virgin Atlantic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, ACES Colombia, BWIA West Indies Airways, ALM Antillean Airlines, Air Jamaica, Viasa, Aeropostal, LACSA, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Dominicana De Aviación, Wardair, ATA Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, and US Airways.

With the expansion of Eastern Airlines and American Airlines facilities, turning Puerto Rico into their Caribbean hub, the historic figure of eight million passengers at the end of 1988. That same year, an investment in expansion and remodeling of $137 million was announced.

The 1990s marked the beginning of important projects to modernize and expand the facilities and services of the airport in response to the boom in passenger and cargo movement and growth projections.

In the period from 1990 to 2000, several infrastructure works were carried out with an investment of approximately $128 million. Some of these include the expansion of the two-level access road to a maximum of 10 lanes on both levels, the new air traffic control tower, a parallel taxiway connecting lanes 8 and 10, a parking garage, and the first and second phase of the Terminal B expansion, modification, and rehabilitation project.

In subsequent years, from 2000 to 2005, other major projects were initiated and completed such as the third phase of the rehabilitation, modification and expansion of Terminal B and the new B / C connector at a cost of $35.9 million, the construction of a new building for the Air Rescue unit at a cost of $4.1 million, and remodeling the hotel at a cost of $5 million.

In 2008 the airport has been receiving major upgrades, including a new terminal (Terminal A), pavement and expansions, new light systems, press conference rooms, and new fast food restaurants along its corridors. In 2012, the new Terminal A was opened, which is currently occupied by JetBlue Airways.[6]

The Airport is owned by the Ports Authority but since 2013 it is managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, in a private public initiative through which a contract was granted to that company to operate the airport for 40 years.

Operations

SJU's Control Tower
Teodoro Moscoso Bridge connecting the city of San Juan to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Carolina

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is Puerto Rico's main international gateway and its main connection to the United States. Domestic flights fly between Carolina and other local destinations, including Culebra, Mayagüez and Vieques. The airport is accessed from the San Juan district of Hato Rey, the island's financial district, via the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge. Old San Juan is accessed via the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway (PR-26). The airport serves as the Caribbean hub for Cape Air, Air Sunshine, and Seaborne Airlines, as well as a focus city for JetBlue Airways.[7] JetBlue is the largest carrier in San Juan, with 51 daily flights on an average day.

Terminals

Luis Muñoz Marín Airport has one main terminal building with four concourses and a separate terminal with one concourse. However, all terminals are connected.

Terminal A

In June 2012, Terminal A was opened and occupied solely by Jetblue Airways, making San Juan a focus city. When Terminal B was closed for renovations, four regional airlines were moved to Terminal A.

Terminal B (Concourse)

Terminal B reopened after a $130 million renovation in December 2014, with Delta, United, Southwest, and Spirit as its tenants (with all operations moved in by February 2015).[8] As of April 2017, Terminal B serves:

Terminal C (Concourse)

Terminal C reopened from its $55 million renovation on March 2016.[9] The letter designation for Terminal C was discontinued, and the concourse was instead added as an extension to Terminal B.[10] The Terminal B extension was later changed back to Terminal C.[11] As of April 2017, Terminal C now services:

Note: Jetblue Airways flights from Santo Domingo–Las Américas arrive on Terminal C, but depart from Terminal A.

Both Terminals B and C feature high-end retail stores and new restaurants, improved seating as well as automated baggage scanners currently used only by six other airports in the mainland U.S.

Terminal D (Concourse)

Terminal D is currently undergoing renovations. It was previously occupied by American Airlines and other OneWorld airlines until the departure of the OneWorld airlines in March 2013. Seaborne Airlines currently uses the far D gates for its turboprop aircraft as part of its San Juan hub operations. As of May 23, 2017, Terminal D services:

Terminal E (Concourse)

Terminal E is currently unused and undergoing renovations. It was previously occupied by American Airlines and its regional affiliate, Executive Airlines, which operated flights under the American Eagle brand. The area became unused after American Airlines moved their flights to Terminal C in 2015. The American Eagle flights were moved to Terminal D before being discontinued in 2013.

Airlines and destinations

Lesser Antilles and local destinations from SJU.
Caribbean, South and Central American destinations from SJU.
United States and Canada destinations from SJU.
European destinations from SJU.

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Antilles Express Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, St. Maarten
Air Canada Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Air Century Santo Domingo–La Isabela
Air Europa Madrid
Air Flamenco Culebra, Vieques
Air Sunshine Anguilla, Dominica–Douglas–Charles, Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Tortola, Vieques, Virgin Gorda
Air Transat Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson (both begin December 24, 2017)[13]
Allegiant Air Orlando–Sanford
Seasonal: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham (begins December 15, 2017)[14]
American Airlines Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York–JFK (ends August 21, 2017),[15] Philadelphia
Avianca Bogotá
Cape Air Culebra, Mayagüez, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, Vieques, Virgin Gorda
Condor Frankfurt
Copa Airlines Panama City
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, New York–JFK
Seasonal: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Frontier Airlines Atlanta (begins October 5, 2017),[16] Miami (begins October 5, 2017),[16] Orlando, Philadelphia[17]
Iberia Seasonal: Madrid
InterCaribbean Airways Providenciales, Tortola
JetBlue Airways Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Hartford, New York–JFK, Newark, Orlando, Punta Cana, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tampa, Washington–National
LIAT Dominica–Douglas–Charles
PAWA Dominicana Santo Domingo–Las Américas
Seaborne Airlines Anguilla, Antigua,[18] Dominica–Douglas–Charles, La Romana, Nevis, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Tortola
Southwest Airlines Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Fort Lauderdale, Houston–Hobby, Newark, Orlando, Tampa
Spirit Airlines Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
Sun Country Airlines Fort Myers, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Tradewind Aviation Anguilla, Nevis, St. Barthélemy
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Cleveland
Vieques Air Link Vieques
Volaris Cancún
WestJet Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson
Winair
operated by Air Antilles Express 		St. Maarten

Charters

AirlinesDestinations
Air Sunshine Anguilla, Dominica–Melville Hall, Nevis, Sint Maarten, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados
Fly BVI Ltd – Caribbean Air Charter Anegada, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Dominica-Canefield
Eastern Air Lines Seasonal: Cancún, Punta Cana
Island Birds Seasonal: Anguilla, Dominica–Melville Hall, Nevis, Sint Maarten, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, Dominica-Canefield
Miami Air Seasonal: Punta Cana
Rainbow International AirlinesAnguilla
Songbird Airways Seasonal: Punta Cana
Swift Air Seasonal: Cancún, Punta Cana
World Atlantic Airlines Seasonal: Orlando, Punta Cana
VI Airlink Seasonal: Beef Island
Xtra Airways Seasonal: Cancún, Punta Cana

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
ABX Air Miami, Port-au-Prince
Air Cargo Carriers Aguadilla, Antigua, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola
Air Sunshine Anguilla, Dominica–Douglas–Charles, Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Tortola, Vieques, Virgin Gorda
Ameriflight Aguadilla, Aruba, Barbados, Caracas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas
Amerijet International Miami
Cargolux Atlanta, Luxembourg
Contract Air Cargo Antigua
DHL Aviation
operated by ABX Air 		Cincinnati, Orlando
Etihad Cargo[19] Amsterdam, Bogota
FedEx Express Memphis
FedEx Feeder
operated by Mountain Air Cargo 		Antigua, Pointe-à-Pitre, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Tortola
Swift Air Cargo Miami, St. Maarten
UPS Airlines Jacksonville, Louisville

Statistics

Traffic statistics

Passenger statistics for SJU[20][21][22][23][24][25]
Year Total passengers % Change
2001 9,453,564 –
2002 9,389,232 Decrease0.7%
2003 9,716,687 Increase3.5%
2004 10,568,986 Increase8.8%
2005 10,768,698 Increase1.9%
2006 10,506,118 Decrease2.4%
2007 10,409,464 Decrease0.9%
2008 9,378,924 Decrease9.9%
2009 8,245,895 Decrease12.1%
2010 8,491,257 Increase3.0%
2011 7,993,381 Decrease5.9%
2012 8,448,172 Increase5.7%
2013 8,347,119 Decrease1.2%
2014 8,569,622 Increase2.7%
2015 8,733,161 Increase1.9%
2016 9,037,134 Increase3.5%
Carrier Shares (May 2016 - April 2017)[26]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Jetblue Airways 2,515,000 33.13%
2 American Airlines 1,787,000 23.54%
3 Southwest Airlines 1,022,000 13.46%
4 Delta Air Lines 932,000 12.28%
5 United Airlines 789,000 10.50%

Top destinations

Busiest USA routes from SJU (May 2016 - April 2017)[26]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 New York–JFK, New York 549,700 American, Delta, JetBlue
2 Orlando, Florida 531,480 JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit
3 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 381,060 JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit
4 Miami, Florida 363,970 American
5 Atlanta, Georgia 252,110 Delta
6 Newark, New Jersey 238,500 JetBlue, United
7 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 164,220 American
8 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 157,580 American, JetBlue, United
9 Boston, Massachusetts 148,730 JetBlue
10 Tampa, Florida 139,700 Jetblue, Southwest
Busiest international (non USA) routes from SJU (Jan 2015 – Dec 2015)[27]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 238,931 JetBlue, PAWA Dominicana
2 United States Virgin Islands Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands 90,919 Air Sunshine, Cape Air, JetBlue, Seaborne
3 Dominican Republic Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 77,564 JetBlue, Seaborne, charter airlines (27,764)
4 Panama Panama City, Panama 69,871 Copa
5 United States Virgin Islands St. Croix, US Virgin Islands 56,676 Cape Air, JetBlue, Seaborne
6 British Virgin Islands Tortola, British Virgin Islands 47,940 Air Sunshine, Cape Air, Seaborne
7 Sint Maarten Philipsburg, Sint Maarten 30,636 JetBlue, Seaborne
8 Dominican Republic Santiago, Dominican Republic 26,481 JetBlue, Seaborne
9 Colombia Bogotá, Colombia 21,812 Avianca
10 Spain Madrid, Spain 21,019 Air Europa
11 Canada Toronto, Canada 14,358 Air Canada, WestJet
12 Germany Frankfurt, Germany 11,157 Condor

Military

C-130 Hercules airplanes at Muñiz ANGB

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

  1. ↑ FAA Airport Master Record for SJU (Form 5010 PDF), effective March 15, 2007
  2. ↑ "Air Traffic Activity System (ATADS)". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ CY 2010 Passenger Boarding Archived February 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Puerto Ricans protest deal with Mexican firm to run airport". EFE. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ Sechler, Bob (February 26, 2013). "Puerto Rico Airport to Go Private". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  6. ↑ "JetBlue | Help". Help.jetblue.com. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "JetBlue | Investor relations | Press Releases". Investor.jetblue.com. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "New Airport Terminal Opens in San Juan". Caribbean Journal. December 18, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ "LMM Airport officials unveil new $55M Terminal C". News Is My Business. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/AeropuertoSJU/photos/a.738839869566070.1073741828.189594561157273/990420577741330/?type=3&theater
  11. ↑ http://aeropuertosju.com/mapas/
  12. ↑ https://www.capeair.com/flying_with_us/caribbean-airports.html
  13. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/272889/airtransat-adds-new-nonstop-sectors-for-w17/
  14. ↑ http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article157013794.html
  15. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/272148/american-ends-new-york-jfk-san-juan-route-in-august-2017/
  16. 1 2 "FRONTIER AIRLINES EXPANDS LOW FARES TO 90 PERCENT OF THE U.S. POPULATION". Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  17. ↑ Mutzabaugh, Ben. "Frontier Airlines adds Puerto Rico to its route map". USA Today. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  18. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/273334/seaborne-airlines-resumes-puerto-rico-antigua-link-in-july-2017/
  19. ↑ Etihad Cargo time table
  20. ↑ Passenger Movement LMM International Airport 2001–2006 Puerto Rico Ports Authority
  21. ↑ Passenger Movement LMM International Airport 2002–2007 Puerto Rico Ports Authority
  22. ↑ Passenger Movement LMM International Airport 2008–2009 Puerto Rico Ports Authority
  23. ↑ Passenger Movement LMM International Airport Jul 2009 – Jun 2011 Puerto Rico Ports Authority
  24. ↑ Carga y pasajeros aéreos y marítimos Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico
  25. ↑ Información Financiera Aeropuertos del Sureste
  26. 1 2 https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=SJU&carrier=FACTS
  27. ↑ "Air Carriers : T-100 Segment (All Carriers)". 2015.
  28. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland DH-114 Heron 2D N563PR San Juan". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  29. ↑ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1149087-21-facts-you-may-not-know-about-roberto-clemente-on-the-anniversary-of-his-debut
  30. ↑ NTSB/AAR-86/01/SUM
  31. ↑ "N27PR Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  32. ↑ "NTSB Identification: MIA86MA217". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  33. 1 2 "N28PR Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  34. ↑ "NTSB Identification: MIA89FA096". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  35. ↑ "N100DW Hull-loss description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Engine fire, McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, G-NIUK, May 11, 1997". fss.aero. 1997-05-11. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  37. ↑ "American Airlines flight 574, In-flight Fire, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 9, 1998". www.ntsb.gov. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  38. ↑ Aviation Safety Network Retrieved November 27, 2006
  39. ↑ "N19BA Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  40. ↑ "MIA01IA110". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Crash During Landing, Executive Airlines Flight 5401, Avions de Transport Regional 72–212, N438AT, San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 9, 2004" (PDF). Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  42. ↑ "The Aviation Herald". Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Cargo plane crashes in Puerto Rico with 3 on board". Archived from the original on May 1, 2012.
  44. ↑ https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20131202-0
  45. ↑ "De alta pasajeras heridas en accidente con de avión de JetBlue". El Nuevo Dia. 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  46. ↑ http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/policia-tribunales/nota/fallecemenorydospersonasresultanconquemadurasenchoquedeavioneta-1228178/

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