Iberia returns to Puerto Rico, thrice weekly by A330-200

Iberia’s Chairman and CEO, Luis Gallego, and Puerto Rico’s Governor, Alejandro García Padilla, have announced today in San Juan that Iberia will resume its non-stop flights to Puerto Rico on 15^th of May.

The announcement has been made during ALTA Airline Leaders Forum (Latin American and Caribbean Airlines Association) where Iberia is taking part.

Starting on 15 May, Iberia will fly to San Juan three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays. Flying times will facilitate easy connections to 90 destinations in the rest of Spain and Europe at Iberia’s T4 hub in Madrid.

Initially, Iberia will operate these flights during the summer season.

A new Iberia for Puerto Rico, with the best product in the market

Iberia will fly to San Juan with its new Airbus A330-200s equipped with newly-designed business (19 seats) and economy (269) sections.

Business travellers can unfold their seats into 2-metre-long flat beds, all with direct access to the aisle. Economy class seats are wider and ergonomic. All passengers can enjoy touch-screen-based à la carte entertainment systems with power and connection ports for their electronic devices, plus access to Wi-Fi and GSM connectivity.

These flights are timed to offer the best connections to/from Iberia’s 90 destinations in Spain and the rest of Europe, via the airline’s T4 hub at Madrid-Barajas airport.

Alejandro García Padilla, Puerto Rico’s Governor commented: “Iberia is back, and in a big way. It is opening a door for Puerto Ricans, and for everyone who uses our Luis Muñoz Marín airport for connections, to travel and business opportunities throughout Europe. Likewise, Iberia’s return, along with the flights by other European airlines to our market, will bring unprecedented numbers of passengers from Europe to Puerto Rico each week“

Iberia Chairman and CEO, Luis Gallego, said: “This is a very satisfying day for us. When we suspended flights to Puerto Rico nearly three years ago, we promised to resume them as soon as we were able to make the route economically sustainable, and that moment has now arrived. All the changes made in the company in recent months have enabled us not only to restore these routes but to open up five new destinations in Latin America –Havana, Cali, Medellin, Montevideo and Santo Domingo, consolidating Iberia’s leadership in flights between Latin America and Europe”.

Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, head of Puerto Rico Tourism Office, added: “Today we’re sharing some news that are very gratifying for Puerto Rico’s holiday industry and that will have a major impact on our island’s economic development. Iberia has again put its trust in Puerto Rico. Its return means another 7,500 or so visitors in the next summer season, and we’re ready for them“.

Iberia and the Puerto Rico Tourism Office have reached an agreement to promote the route to Europeans over the next two years. Campaigns in print and broadcast media as well as in the social media will focus on the many attractions of the island.

Leader between Latin America and Europe

In the past year, Iberia has launched six new Latin America destinations: Santo Domingo, Montevideo, Havana, Cali, Medellin, and now to San Juan in Puerto Rico. The airline operates a total of 250 flights each week between Europe and Latin America.