Jet Blue, Air Europa, Southwest, Cape Air, Avianca and LIAT are among the carriers said to be planning to expand service to and from San Juan.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Officials in Puerto Rico say the US island territory aims to position itself as a key air transportation centre in the Caribbean, taking advantage of growth opportunities in an industry that is essential to regional economic development.

The island got a big boost with Seaborne Airlines’ recent decision to relocate its operations base from the US Virgin Islands to San Juan, bringing along its managers, mechanics, and other personnel.

The new facility in Puerto Rico is scheduled to open this weekend.

Seaborne Airlines moved its operations base to San Juan after American Eagle left the island last April after decades of operating out of Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in the Puerto Rican capital.

Seaborne currently offers flights from San Juan to St Kitts and Nevis, the Dominican Republic, and St Martin.

The Puerto Rican Economic Development Bank (EDB) got a 20 percent stake in Seaborne and two board seats, one of which will go to EDB President Joey Cancel Planas, for US$9 million.

Under the agreement between the EDB and Seaborne, the carrier will establish 10 new routes this year linking San Juan to Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Haiti.

JetBlue, Air Europa, Southwest, Cape Air, Avianca and LIAT are among the carriers said to be planning to expand service to and from Puerto Rico, with some of the airlines picking up routes previously covered by American Eagle.

Southwest plans to offer flights linking Puerto Rico to the east and west coasts of the United States.

Avianca has been offering three flights a week between Bogota and San Juan since last July.

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