Rafael Hernandez Airport Aguadilla

First Class From Coast to Coast


Located on the northwest coast, in the municipality of Aguadilla, is the Rafael Hernández Airport. The airport, one of a total of ten on the island, is equipped with the longest landing strip in the Caribbean. It includes a multi-use zone with administrative office space, federal agencies, areas for mechanic workshops security, and room space for airlines and concessionaries.

The Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla is being redeveloped to become Puerto Rico’s second international airport and logistics center. The new scope of the airport will include direct flights to Spain and establish the airport as a major access point to Europe.

Airlines that operate out of Rafael Hernández Airport include Jet Blue (JFK), Continental Airlines (Newark) and Trans Meridian. The airport also serves as a “hub” for FedEx in the Caribbean.

Investment

  • $3 million public investment for immediate improvements to the control tower
  • Direct flights to Spain have been inaugurated as part of the Economic Development for the West initiative (IDEO by its Spanish acronym), with a total investment of $4 million and the creation of 100 jobs

Improvements

  • $21.8 million in additional investments, to possibly include:
    • Taxiway extension
    • Construction of jet bridges
    • Construction of new buildings for air rescue

Public-Private Partnership for the Development of Cargo Sector

  • A new promotional air access strategy has been implemented to increase passenger and cargo traffic

Economic Impact

  • 350 direct and indirect jobs
  • Passenger and cargo movement increase to attract new airlines, as well as new routes to Central and South America

The Aguadilla Airport will be the first airport in Puerto Rico for which a free zone designation will be requested. This pilot project contemplates the development and positioning of this airport as a logistics hub for air cargo. Currently, this initiative is part of an interagency effort between the DEDC, Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO), Trade and Commerce Company, Ports Authority, and the Municipality of Aguadilla. The first phase of this project is to request the designation of this airport as a “Foreign Trade Zone”, through the “Foreign Trade Zone Board”. This request will be submitted parallel to another request to the US Department of Transportation to receive a series of exemptions related to the transfer of cargo. This will ease existing restrictions between foreign airlines, which should attract higher volumes of traffic to the airport, and generate dozens of new jobs.

With these new operations, Puerto Rico will further establish its status as the international hub for the Caribbean. For more information on how to participate on the development plans for the Aguadilla Airport, please contact us at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce: 787-765-2900 or info@prdoesitbetter.com.

 

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