Governor Rosselló announces flights between Madrid and San Juan with Iberia throughout the year
(April 4, 2019 – Seville) In the framework of the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC) World Forum that is currently taking place in Seville, Governor of Puerto Rico Ricardo Rosselló announced with Iberia that the airline will expand its operation on the Island to the winter season and will now offer direct flights between Madrid and San Juan throughout the year.
The airline will offer three weekly flights between Madrid and San Juan during the entire winter season—from October to March— which will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with schedules that allow the best connections with Europe.
“Iberia has been an unwavering ally of Puerto Rico and we are pleased to see that its commitment to the Island is redoubled and strengthened today. Having a direct flight throughout the year is a strong indicator that tourism in Puerto Rico is growing and that the leadership of the Tourism Company in the development of air routes is generating results,” said the chief executive.
Rosselló also stated “we thank Iberia for trusting Puerto Rico once again as one of its main international destinations.”
This announcement comes from an intention agreement signed between the governor, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), Carla Campos, and the commercial director of Iberia, Marco Sansavini, to support the new Iberia connections between Puerto Rico and the European continent.
For her part, the executive director of the PRTC, Carla Campos, said that “the expansion of Iberia services to the Island during the winter season, with over 40 thousand additional seats, means an additional economic impact of about $7.4 million, as a result of the arrival of passengers from Europe on the route.”
Campos added that “this agreement between the Tourism Company and Iberia multiplies our connectivity with Europe during the winter, which is when more Europeans visit Puerto Rico.”
Flights from Madrid to San Juan will be from 3:55 p.m. to 7:55 p.m. and from San Juan to Madrid from 9:30 p.m. to 10:40 a.m.; Both routes during Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday of next winter.
The commercial director of Iberia highlighted “the collaboration of Iberia with Puerto Rico, precisely 70 years since we started flying to San Juan. Our destiny
promotion in Europe has been constant. We hope that these new connections are a success and contribute to the great work being done by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.”
The flights will be operated by Airbus A330/300 aircraft, with capacity for 292 passengers: 29 in Commercial, 21 in Premium Tourist and 242 in Tourist.
This supposes an additional offer of about 40 thousand seats during the winter. During summer season, Iberia offers three weekly flights between Madrid and San Juan and reinforces with two additional ones, for a total of five, during June, July, and August.
Added to the winter program, this supposes around 66 thousand seats, which place the offer of Iberia with Puerto Rico in 106 thousand seats annually. That is an increase of 62 percent in comparison to 2018.
The chief executive officer of Discover Puerto Rico, Brad Dean, was also present during the signing of the agreement. He has reiterated his commitment to supporting the route with marketing and sales efforts in European destinations to equally support the extended service of the route.
It was also reported that the operation with Airbus A330/300 aircraft during the winter season increases availability in Commercial class and introduces the new Iberia Premium Tourist Class on the Madrid-San Juan route, a cabin aimed at tourists of greater spending, willing to pay a little more for better service and greater comfort both on board and at the airport.
Between the characteristics of this new class, they emphasize an exclusive cabin, separated from the Commercial and Tourist classes; Wider seats and 20 percent more separation between seat rows; 40 percent more seat recline, from 5 to 7 inches in Premium Tourist; As well as adjustable headrests and reclining footrests.
It also includes 12-inch full HD screens (compared to 9 inches in Tourist class), noise canceling headphones, and connectors for individual electronic devices.
Premium Tourist Class also includes exclusive on-board service with a welcome drink, exclusive menu, on-board lingerie, a personalized toilet kit, and priority in the boarding and landing of the flight. At the Madrid airport, there will also be differentiated check-in counters.
###
