The executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR), Carlos Mercado Santiago, announced a new Collaborative Agreement between CTPR and Copa Airlines to increase air access to Puerto Rico from Central and South America. This agreement was signed during the ANATO 2024 Tourist Showcase, aiming to boost occupancy levels and frequency on the Panama route.
Under this partnership, promotional activities will be intensified in key markets like Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. This initiative aligns with Governor Pierluisi’s efforts to enhance air demand from Central and South America. As a result, Copa Airlines will restore its pre-pandemic itinerary with two daily flights to San Juan throughout the year, projecting over 234,000 seats in 2024 – a 22% increase from 2019 levels.
Diego Bermudez, regional sales manager of Copa Airlines, emphasized the importance of this alliance in strengthening connections between Central and South America and Puerto Rico. Currently, Copa offers 14 weekly flights connecting San Juan with major Latin American markets, with plans to increase frequencies to 17 weekly flights between June and July, bringing an economic impact of $1.3 million.
Sales and marketing strategies are being employed to attract tourists from Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, and other markets to consider Puerto Rico as a budget-friendly Caribbean destination. This collaboration aims to position San Juan as a central hub in Copa’s network of operations, facilitating cultural and commercial exchange in the region.