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For the third consecutive year, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) surpassed its previous record for annual travelers by celebrating the arrival of its 13 millionth passenger on Thursday, organized by airport management company Aerostar Puerto Rico, along with the airport community and tourism officials from the island.
The airport is set to conclude 2024 with yet another record, following a remarkable year in 2023. The individual who brought the total to 13 million this year was 41-year-old Andrea Krimmel, who arrived with her family on Delta Air Lines flight 1883 from Atlanta.
“We are celebrating a significant achievement for Aerostar, the airport community, and the tourism industry as a whole on the island,” stated Aerostar President Jorge Hernández in a written communication. “Reaching the significant milestone of 13 million travelers in a single year is the outcome of ongoing growth observed in recent years. It reflects the efforts of our team, the many employees within the airport community, and various partners and sectors within an industry that propels Puerto Rico’s development every day.”
Carlos Mercado Santiago, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, added that the ongoing growth in air access provides the agency with the assurance to keep introducing new routes and enhancing flight frequencies, ensuring the trend continues in the coming years.
“This latest achievement highlights the beneficial effect of commercial relationships with airlines that continue to view our island as a prime location for expanding their operations,” he mentioned.
The flight was welcomed at approximately 11:35 a.m. with a ceremony known in the aviation sector as a “water salute,” which involves creating an arch of water sprayed from two fire trucks directed at the aircraft. This ceremony, performed on special occasions, was executed by Aerostar’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighters team and was visible to the public from the windows of Terminal B along the taxiway near the runway.
Upon disembarking, Krimmel was met by officials who offered her a variety of gifts, accompanied by the music of Christmas played by a group of pleneros. Among the gifts was a check for $1,300 from Aerostar, along with Puerto Rican liquor, crafts from airport vendors, and a Global Lounge membership.
