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House Minority Leader Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez along with House District 25 candidate Daniel Vega Ortiz are vowing to take steps towards making the transfer of Mercedita International Airport in Ponce to the local government a reality.
These statements were made over the weekend following Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia’s decision to deny the transfer of the airport to the Ponce Port Authority, opting instead to sign an executive order to create a committee that will assess the transfer and provide a report within 180 days.
Méndez and Vega have pledged to advocate for a legislative resolution that will define the framework for an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, Méndez noted he aims to implement the Essential Air Service (EAS).
“I have had discussions with our spokesperson to ensure that in January 2025, one of the initial pieces of legislation to be both proposed and considered will be focused on outlining the agreement parameters with the FAA, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, and the municipality of Ponce, allowing the latter to manage the operations of the Mercedita International Airport,” stated Vega, who is campaigning for the House seat representing Jayuya, Ponce, and Juana Díaz. “We intend to proceed appropriately; the majority faction in the House in 2024 will collaborate with federal, state, and municipal authorities to pave the way for what all Ponceños desire: local control over our airport.”
“The Mercedita International Airport saw a remarkable increase in passenger and cargo traffic during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which concluded on June 30,” Vega elaborated. “In the first nine months of that fiscal year, there were 118,977 arrivals, an increase from 98,909 in 2023. With an aggressive marketing strategy aimed at attracting tourists, particularly from November to April, these figures are expected to grow.”
One of the initiatives that the New Progressive Party intends to pursue, should it secure a majority in the House in the upcoming general elections, is to review the Guidelines for the Transfer of Federally Mandated Airports, and to set up a dialogue committee with the Financial Oversight and Management Board and the FAA— the body that must approve any such facility transfer, which is categorized as a national security asset.
“The EAS would assist the Ponce airport in preserving commercial air service by providing subsidies for smaller air operations (aircraft with up to 20 seats), similar to the arrangements in Alaska and Hawaii, among other regions,” Méndez stated. “This year, our resident commissioner and next governor, Jenniffer González, secured the inclusion of the Eugenio María de Hostos regional airport in Mayagüez in this program through the approval of HR 3935 (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024). We are committed to working with her, our incoming resident commissioner, William Villafañe, and our legislators to achieve the same for Mercedita Airport.”
The EAS represents a federal initiative that offers financial assistance and resources to ensure flight services at regional airports across the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico.
Mercedita International Airport is viewed as a crucial asset for the revitalization of Ponce and its surrounding areas. Over recent years, it has served as an arrival point for over 50,000 travelers from Orlando, Florida. Additionally, it provides employment for more than 50 individuals from the southern region, including JetBlue airline employees, vehicle rental agents, and staff responsible for airport administration and maintenance.
