SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Two charter airlines are throwing their
hats into the air transportation ring serving Puerto Rico.
American Trans Air will introduce two daily roundtrips from
Chicago's Midway Airport to Miami, with connecting service from
Miami to San Juan, beginning Nov. 16.
Rick Larsen, the airline's vice president, sales, said that the
new route was added to meet "growing customer demand from the
Midwest region."
The new service complements the nonstop service already in place
to San Juan from both Chicago and Orlando.
One-way introductory fares based on roundtrip purchase are
available for travel between Nov. 16 and Dec. 14.
The one-way special fare is $99 from Midway to Miami and $175
from Miami to San Juan.
For reservations, contact American Trans Air at (800)
I-FLY-ATA.
The Web site address is www.ata.com.
North American Airlines, based in Jamaica, N.Y., launched a
series of twice-weekly charters earlier this month between New
York's Kennedy and Aguadilla on Puerto Rico's west coast.
Flights depart on Mondays and Saturdays through Aug. 25.
Commission ranges between 12% and 15%, depending on the volume
booked.
North American operates new 757-200s and 737-800s on these
flights, with full passenger amenities.
According to Bruno Scaldaferri, vice president, marketing, for
North America, the new service fills the gap left by recent airline
consolidations that resulted in the cancellation of service from
Kennedy to Aguadilla as well as a reduction of flights from
Newark.
"There is a tremendous demand to link New York's 4 million
Puerto Rican residents with friends and family on Puerto Rico's
west coast," Scaldaferri said.
"This demand is particularly acute in the summer season."
Additional flights could be added during the summer and at other
holiday periods, depending upon the success of the new
operation.
For reservations, contact Ramirez Travel at (718) 499-2777 and
Valentino Travel at (718) 365-9088.
New scheduled interisland flights were added recently to Puerto
Rico's transportation roster.
The following is a sampling of the new flights:
American Eagle introduced three flights per week between San
Juan and Bonaire on June 2.On May 17, the regional line launched four weekly flights to
Canouan Island in the Grenadines.
Two flights per week fly on to Barbados.
Pan American introduced twice-weekly flights from San Juan to
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on May 24.Pan American also began service between Sanford, Fla., and San
Juan on the same date with a schedule of six flights per week.
For general information on Caribbean air services, visit www.caribbeanaviation.com.