Avianca Airlines has opened up a new route between Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The post Avianca Airlines inaugurates direct service from San Juan to Medellin appeared first on AviationSource News.
Avianca Airlines has opened up a new route between Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The recently announced service will connect Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan with José María Córdova International Airport in Medellin.
Avianca’s Latest Connection
Avianca, the Colombian flag carrier, has commenced a four times-weekly service between Medellin’s José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) and San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
Operating with an Airbus A320 configured for 180 passengers, this route boasts a flight time of approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, providing a swift and convenient connection between the two vibrant destinations.
Increased Travel Opportunities
With the inauguration of this new route, Avianca is making a substantial commitment to expanding travel opportunities for customers in Puerto Rico.
The airline, in a statement, highlights that over 1,400 weekly seats will be offered on this route, showcasing its dedication to enhancing international connectivity for Puerto Rican travelers.
Aristides Luna, Avianca’s sales manager for North America, expresses the airline’s commitment, stating,
“With the inauguration of our direct flight between San Juan and Medellin, we are committed to enhancing Puerto Rico’s international connectivity and offering passengers a direct and convenient option to reach one of Colombia’s most attractive destinations.”
Meeting Passenger Demand
The introduction of this route is a response to the growing demand from passengers eager to travel from Puerto Rico to Colombia.
Avianca already operates 10x-weekly flights between Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport and SJU, and the new Medellin route further solidifies the airline’s dedication to meeting the evolving needs of its passengers.
Photo Credit: Avianca Group
A Decade of Connectivity
Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia, emphasizes the significance of this milestone, stating,
“This fantastic news not only marks the inauguration of a new air route but also commemorates a decade of successful and uninterrupted connection between Puerto Rico and Colombia, representing a 40.6% growth in seat availability now connecting the two countries.”
Tourism Boost and Economic Impact
Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, expresses delight at Avianca Airlines’ historic growth on the island.
The addition of four weekly flights from Medellin, coupled with increased frequencies from Bogotá, is projected to have an estimated economic impact of $45 million and will provide a total of 97,000 available seats between both countries.
We are delighted with the excellent tourism exchange relationship that has developed between Colombia and Puerto Rico, which will also foster an expansion of cultural and commercial exchange between these sister destinations,” he concluded.
Avianca to Date
Avianca, with more than 103 years of continuous operation since 1919, is the leading airline in Colombia, Ecuador, Central America and has one of the largest air operations in Latin America with 144 routes, 4,200 weekly flights.
ERIC SALARD from PARIS, FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It currently operates a fleet of 128 Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, connecting to around 71 destinations in 24 countries in the Americas and Europe.
In 2022, Avianca carried 24.6 million passengers with the operation of more than 187,000 flights. Its loyalty program, LifeMiles, is one of the largest in Latin America with more than 12.4 million members and 500 allied brands.
In cargo transportation, Avianca Cargo is a leader in the region and is the main operator in different markets in the Americas.
It serves more than 50 destinations with a fleet of Airbus 330 freighters, in addition to operating bellies in passenger aircraft. In 2022, Avianca Cargo transported more than 450,000 tons of cargo.
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The post Avianca Airlines inaugurates direct service from San Juan to Medellin appeared first on AviationSource News.