Frontier Airlines announced the opening of a new crew base at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June 2024. The new base will employ up to 90 pilots and 200 cabin crew during its first year of operations.
Overall, the base is expected to generate around $84 million in local salaries, including, in addition to the crews, ground staff, and maintenance personnel. To commemorate this event, the ultra-low-cost airline is offering fares starting from $49 for flights to and from Puerto Rico, with the option to purchase Stretch Premium seats, providing extra legroom, for an additional $19.
Frontier is one of the fastest-growing airlines in Puerto Rico, doubling its capacity at the three main airports on the island. Additionally, the airline has increased direct connections between the United States and Puerto Rico, currently operating 14 non-stop routes from San Juan (SJU), a direct service from Orlando (MCO) to Ponce (PSE) and Aguadilla (BQN).
Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines, stated: “We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Government of Puerto Rico and our tourism and business partners on the island as we prepare to open our thirteenth crew base in San Juan.”
“Our base will provide a significant economic impact and new job opportunities for Puerto Ricans. A crew base also helps maintain the fluidity of flight operations, benefiting customers flying to and from the island, who will have access to a wide variety of destinations, including several underserved markets, as we continue to expand our operations in Puerto Rico,” added Biffle.
Meanwhile, Governor Pierluisi noted: “Tourism in Puerto Rico has experienced three years of sustained growth, and we continue to invest in promoting our island as a destination. Frontier Airlines’ announcement of opening a crew base at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is another positive milestone for the development of our tourism industry.”
“Frontier is betting on Puerto Rico, contributing to job creation and injecting additional funds into our economy. This initiative reflects the potential that Puerto Rico has for the establishment and development of the aviation sector,” added Pierluisi.
