Airline Volaris launching Mexico-Puerto Rico route
From left: Agustín Arellano, Ingrid Rivera-Rocafort, Holger Blankenstein, commercial director for Volaris, and Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Alberto Bacó, during Tuesday morning’s announcement of the new service.
Volaris, the ultra low cost Mexican airline servicing Mexico and the United States, announced Tuesday the introduction of new international service between Cancún and San Juan, starting July 2nd.
During a press conference, Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranena, addressed the importance of including San Juan in the Volaris destination roster and said the carrier is the only one to connect Mexico with Puerto Rico in the last 15 years. The carrier will offer two weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays.
“Today we are announcing expansion of our coverage to a total of 60 destinations. Sure enough, Puerto Rico is now closer than ever to Mexico. Plus, with Volaris’ clean and clear fares, this a truly irresistible destination,” he said, while announcing an introductory fare of $129 one-way to Cancún.
“Incorporating Puerto Rico into the Volaris route network responds to our expansion strategy for the region. It also underscores our commitment to Cancún, where we are currently servicing 18 destinations and operating 257 flights per week,” Beltranena said.
He further explained this service opens doors to diversify the island’s offering.
“At Volaris we are committed to promoting air connectivity for the country’s most important cities, which in turn fosters their economic development. This is why we are offering connections from Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana, which helps our customers avoid long layovers at other locations,” he said.
Volaris has a network throughout Mexico and the United States totaling 139 routes to 60 destinations — 22 international and 38 domestic. Since its inauguration, Volaris has transported nearly 50 million passengers, 7 million of which have been for international travel, company officials said.
“Volaris’ arrival to Puerto Rico is part of concerted efforts by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to extend access to our destination. With this flight, we are restoring direct connection from our island to Mexico, which is the Latin American country sending the highest number of visitors to Puerto Rico,” said Tourism Company Executive Director Ingrid I. Rivera-Rocafort, during the press conferenc.
“Now, arriving in San Juan will be much easier and affordable for tourists who visit us from Mexico,” she added.
Meanwhile, Agustín Arellano, CEO of Aerostar Airport Holdings, which operates the LMM Airport, applauded the airline’s arrival to the local market.
“Today we are enthusiastically celebrating the arrival of Volaris to ‘boricua’ territory. We extend a warm welcome to this carrier, not only for opening a new route for us, but also because it enables us to reassert our commitment of projecting Puerto Rico as the ideal Caribbean destination before the eyes of the world,” he said.
“Volaris’ incursion to the Caribbean as part of our operational offering positions us as the first cruise travel destination in the Caribbean. With two flights per week, it will clearly provide better options for the varied tourism offering generated in Puerto Rico,” he added.
Once it starts service, the airline will connect the San Juan and Cancún airports, which served 8.6 million and 17.5 million passengers in 2014, respectively.
From left: Agustín Arellano and Richard Carrión during Tuesday’s inauguration of the bank’s airport branch.
Popular reopens LMM branch
In related news, Banco Popular inaugurated Tuesday its branch at the LMM airport, now located between the recently remodeled Terminals B and C.
“This branch is not only designed to address customer needs, but has also adapted to the changes the airport has incorporated to offer better services to travelers,” said Popular CEO Richard Carrión, who was flanked by Arellano during the ribbon-cutting.
Banco Popular has had a presence at the LMM Airport since April 1978, when it began operating the former Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño branch. Aside from offering typical banking services, the airport branch also provides currency exchange to travelers needing sterling, Canadian dollars and Mexican pesos.
