Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Airport serving San Juan, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín) (IATA: SJU, ICAO: TJSJ, FAA LID: SJU), previously known as Isla Verde International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Isla Verde), is the main international airport of Puerto Rico serving the capital municipality of San Juan and its metropolitan area since 1955.[3] Named after Luis Muñoz Marín, the first popularly elected governor of the archipelago and island, the 1,600 acre (647 ha) airport is located in the beachfront resort district of Isla Verde in the municipality of Carolina, about 4 to 7 miles (6.4 to 11.3 km) east of the Milla de Oro financial district in Hato Rey barrio, Condado resort area and Isla Grande secondary airport in Santurce barrio, and Old San Juan historic quarter in San Juan Islet. SJU processed 13,643,689 total passengers in 2025, making it the busiest airport in Puerto Rico and the insular Caribbean.[1][4][5]
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín | |||||||||||||||
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 Satellite view of SJU | |||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public–Private Partnership / Military | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Puerto Rico Ports Authority | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Aerostar Airport Holdings | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | San Juan, Puerto Rico | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Carolina, Puerto Rico | ||||||||||||||
| Opened | May 22, 1955 | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for |
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Focus city for | JetBlue | ||||||||||||||
Operating base for | |||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 9 ft (2.7 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 18°26′21″N 066°00′07″W | ||||||||||||||
| Website | aeropuertosju | ||||||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||||||
 FAA airport diagram | |||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of SJU | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2025) | |||||||||||||||
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| Source: FAA[2] | |||||||||||||||
Handling 93% of passenger flow and 90% of air cargo into Puerto Rico,[6] SJU is the 39th busiest airport by passenger enplanement, 38th by total passenger traffic, 24th by international passenger traffic, and 23rd by cargo throughput in the United States and its territories. It is also the 46th busiest airport in North America and the 15th busiest airport in Latin America by total passenger traffic.
SJU is owned by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, a public–private partnership operating the airport for 40 years, beginning in 2013.[7][8][9] It was the second international airport to be privatized in the United States and its territories, and, as of 2025, it is the only currently privatized airport in the country.[10]
History
Evolution of the airport
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From 1990 to 2000, several infrastructure works were carried out with an investment of approximately $128 million. Some of these include the expansion of the two-level access road to a maximum of 10 lanes on both levels and the new air traffic control tower (designed by Segundo Cardona FAIA of SCF Architects[11]).
Competition from low-cost carriers, together with the financial crisis and oil price shock of 2008, led American to reduce its San Juan presence and consolidate its Caribbean hub operations at Miami. American eventually closed its San Juan base and retired its ATR fleet in 2013 as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring.[12] That same year, the airport received major upgrades, including the new Terminal A, new pavement and expansions, new light systems, press conference rooms, consolidated security area for Terminals B, C and D as well as new fast food restaurants along its corridors. In 2012, the new Terminal A was opened, which is currently occupied by JetBlue Airways.[13]
The Airport is owned by the Ports Authority but since 2013 it is managed by Aerostar Airport Holdings, in a private public initiative through which a contract was granted to that company to operate the airport for 40 years. This was after observations were made by politicians in and outside of Puerto Rico, and comments were made that privatization was a better solution for the airport. Prior to privatization, management was changed each time a different political party in Puerto Rico took office and this caused disruption, and a lack of a long-term vision for the airport.[14]
In January 2024, Frontier Airlines announced the establishment of a crew base in San Juan [15]
In the past, the airport has been served by many airlines including Surinam Airways.[16]
Operations
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Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is Puerto Rico's main international gateway and its main connection to the mainland United States. Domestic flights fly between Carolina and other local destinations, including Culebra, Mayagüez and Vieques. The airport is accessed from the San Juan district of Hato Rey, the island's financial district, via the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge. Old San Juan is accessed via the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway (PR-26). The airport serves as the Caribbean hub for Cape Air and Air Sunshine, a Focus City for JetBlue and an operating base for Frontier Airlines (as of June 2024).[17][18] JetBlue is the largest carrier in San Juan, with 51 daily flights on an average day.[citation needed]
Terminals
As of August 2020, Luis Muñoz Marín Airport has one main terminal building with four concourses and a separate terminal with one concourse. However, all terminals are connected. Over the years, the airport has switched between letter designations and number designations. In the late 2010s, the airport incorporated both letter and numbers. The letters are used for the concourses and the numbers used for the airlines' departure areas in Terminals B, C and D, Terminal A having its own ticketing area.[citation needed]
Terminal A
Terminal A was opened in June 2012 and occupied solely by JetBlue Airways, announcing San Juan as a focus city. The terminal originally had seven gates but an additional gate was added for regional airlines during the renovations of Terminals B and C. All JetBlue flights, both domestic and international, depart from Terminal A and as of June 2025, Terminal A is used by Air Canada, Avelo, JetBlue and Tradewind Aviation. As of 2025, plans to relocate the check-in desks and security lines are underway. Gates A1, A2 and A3 will also be relocated once the new terminal extension has been built.[19]
Terminal A also houses The Lounge San Juan,[20] a VIP airport lounge belonging to Priority Pass as well as Gates A1 through A8.[citation needed]
Terminal B (Concourse)
This $40 million dollar and 365,000-square-foot (33,900 m2), fully self contained facility opened in 1985 and was designed as a sole terminal for Eastern Airlines accommodating 11 wide body gates.[citation needed]
With Eastern Airlines’ demise, the single carrier 11 gate unit terminal originally designed for Eastern Airlines was altered and expanded in three phases to become a state of the art 25 gate facility servicing over 30 domestic and international airlines and a multitude of concessionaires. The expansion of the existing Terminal B, which resulted in a new concourse, then became known as Terminal C.[citation needed]
When Terminal B was closed for renovations, airlines were temporarily moved to Terminals A, C and D. Terminal B reopened after a $130 million renovation in December 2014, with Delta, United, Southwest, and Spirit as its first tenants (with all operations moved in February 2015).[21]
As of June 2025, Terminal B is also used by Air Canada. All check-in counters for airlines using gates in Terminals B, C and D are all located within the Terminal and Gates B2 through B10 are located within the Concourse.[citation needed]
Terminal C (Concourse)
Terminal C was originally built and completed in 1996 as an expansion to Terminal B in an effort to accommodate the growth of American Airlines’ Caribbean Hub.[citation needed]
Terminal C reopened from its $55 million renovation in March 2016.[22] The letter designation for Terminal C was temporarily discontinued, and the concourse was instead added as an extension to Terminal B.[23] The Terminal B extension was later changed back to Terminal C.[24]
Both Terminals B and C feature high-end retail stores and new restaurants, improved seating as well as automated baggage scanners currently used only by six other airports in the mainland U.S.[citation needed]
An Avianca VIP airport lounge[25] is located at the entrance of Terminal C. This All-Inclusive lounge is operated by Global Lounge Network.[26]
As of June 2025, Terminal C houses gates C2 through C10 and is used primarily by Frontier. Other airlines in the terminal also include Air Canada, American, Arajet, Avianca, Copa, Iberia, international JetBlue arrivals as well as local charters.[citation needed]
Terminal D (Concourse)
The current Terminal D occupies what were formerly known as Terminals D and E and they were previously occupied solely by American Airlines, its regional affiliate, Executive Airlines, which operated flights under the American Eagle brand, and later both British Airways and Iberia. American Airlines' Admirals Lounge continued to operate until March 22, 2014. The former Terminal E area became unused after American Airlines moved their operations to Terminal C in 2015. The American Eagle flights were moved to the previous Terminal D in the late 2000s before being discontinued in April 2013.[27]
Terminal D reopened on March 14, 2023, and is mostly used for small and regional aircraft operators such as Cape Air, Caribbean Airlines, and InterCaribbean Airways as well as other carriers. The terminal has five gates set up for regional flights and another three gates set up for high-capacity scheduled and charter flights. These scheduled flights include Delta, Frontier, Spirit and United when Terminals B and C are at maximum capacity. The former eastern end of Terminal D has been walled off, and the former Terminal E remains closed off to the public, both still waiting for renovations. The closed terminal areas and baggage claim area still have old American Airlines branding from their hub operations while the former check-in hall has been renovated for access to the airport hotel and parking.[citation needed]
The new terminal has a more open ambience which will be used as a basis for future renovations at Terminals A, B and C. The cost of renovations is estimated to be at around $14 million.[28]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Cargo
| Intra-Puerto Rico destinations map |
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Intra-Puerto Rico destinations from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
• Red represents year-round destinations. |
| Caribbean and Central American destinations map |
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Caribbean and Central American destinations from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
• Red represents year-round destinations. |
| North American destinations map |
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  SJU North American destinations from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
• Red represents year-round destinations. |
| Other International destinations map |
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Other International destinations from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
• Red represents year-round destinations. |
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Statistics
Traffic statistics
| Year | Passengers | % Change | Year | Passengers | % Change | Year | Passengers | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9,453,564 | – | 2011 | 7,993,381 |  5.9% |
2021 | 9,684,227 |  99.9% |
| 2002 | 9,389,232 | 0.7% |
2012 | 8,448,172 | 5.7% |
2022 | 10,310,990 | 6.5% |
| 2003 | 9,716,687 | 3.5% |
2013 | 8,347,119 | 1.2% |
2023 | 12,197,553 | 18.3% |
| 2004 | 10,568,986 | 8.8% |
2014 | 8,569,622 | 2.7% |
2024 | 13,247,382 | 8.6% |
| 2005 | 10,768,698 | 1.9% |
2015 | 8,733,161 | 1.9% |
2025 | 13,643,686[1] | 3.0% |
| 2006 | 10,506,118 | 2.4% |
2016 | 9,032,627 | 3.4% |
2026 | 9,422,571[83] | 3.4% |
| 2007 | 10,409,464 | 0.9% |
2017 | 8,407,404 | 6.9% | |||
| 2008 | 9,378,924 | 9.9% |
2018 | 8,373,679 | 0.4% | |||
| 2009 | 8,245,895 | 12.1% |
2019 | 9,448,253 | 12.8% | |||
| 2010 | 8,491,257 | 3.0% |
2020 | 4,845,353 | 48.7% |
| Rank | Airline | Passengers | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JetBlue | 3,252,000 | 27.87% |
| 2 | Frontier Airlines | 1,888,000 | 16.18% |
| 3 | American Airlines | 1,497,000 | 12.83% |
| 4 | Delta Air Lines | 1,269,000 | 10.87% |
| 5 | Southwest Airlines | 1,237,000 | 10.60% |
| – | Other | 2,525,000 | 21.64% |
Top destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando, Florida | 987,110 | Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit |
| 2 | New York–JFK, New York | 650,200 | Delta, Frontier, JetBlue |
| 3 | Miami, Florida | 433,050 | American, Frontier, Spirit |
| 4 | Atlanta, Georgia | 378,670 | Delta, Frontier, Spirit |
| 5 | Newark, New Jersey | 371,260 | Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, United |
| 6 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 344,730 | Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit |
| 7 | Boston, Massachusetts | 288,990 | Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit |
| 8 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 280,950 | American, Frontier, Spirit |
| 9 | Tampa, Florida | 233,930 | Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest |
| 10 | Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois | 215,980 | American, Spirit, United |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 308,196 | Frontier, JetBlue |
| 2 | Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Dominican Republic | 281,232 | Frontier, JetBlue |
| 3 | Panama City–Tocumen, Panama | 201,477 | Copa |
| 4 | Madrid, Spain | 197,902 | Iberia |
| 5 | Bogotá, Colombia | 135,370 | Avianca |
| 6 | Medellín–JMC, Colombia | 106,797 | Avianca, JetBlue |
| 7 | Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic | 74,395 | Frontier, JetBlue, Silver |
| 8 | Tortola, British Virgin Islands | 67,835 | Cape Air, Caribbean, Silver, Tradewind |
| 9 | St. Jean, Saint Barthélemy | 39,154 | Tradewind |
| 10 | Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago | 25,358 | Caribbean, Frontier |
Military
Located within Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the 156th Airlift Wing is used for air mobility missions, providing global transport to military personnel, equipment, and supplies in both wartime and peacetime training exercises, particularly for those under the purview of the United States Southern Command, which covers the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico, including Central and South America, and the Caribbean, and the waters adjacent to these areas in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Caribbean Sea.[86][87]
Accidents and incidents
- On March 5, 1969, Prinair Flight 277, a de Havilland Heron from St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, was attempting to land at the airport when it crashed into mountainous terrain near Luquillo, killing all 19 on board. An NTSB investigation found that an air traffic controller at the airport mistakenly thought the aircraft was near San Juan when it actually was near Fajardo instead.[88]
- On December 31, 1972, baseball star Roberto Clemente and his companions died when their DC-7 crashed soon after takeoff from Isla Verde during a relief flight bound for Nicaragua. Neither the bodies of the victims (except for the pilot's) nor the plane's wreckage was ever found.[89]
- On September 26, 1978, an Air Caribbean Airlines Beechcraft D185 passenger airplane was landing from Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, after a domestic flight, when it crashed into Barrio Obrero, near Residencial Las Casas, killing all 6 on board. The plane fell on top of a bar, injuring several bar clients, including mechanic Luciano Rivera. Wake turbulence from an Eastern Airlines L-1011 which was also landing was found to be the accident's main cause.[citation needed]
- On July 22, 1986, a Borinquen Air Douglas C-53D registered N27PR crashed into a lagoon on approach. The aircraft was on a cargo flight to Golden Rock Airport, Saint Kitts and Nevis, when the starboard engine failed shortly after take-off and the crew decided to return to Carolina. One of the two crew members was killed,[90] the other was seriously injured.[91]
- On March 1, 1989, a Borinquen Air Douglas C-49J registered N28PR ditched on approach following a failure of the port engine.[92] Although the landing gear was retracted, the crew did not feather the propeller. This resulted in increased drag which made flight impossible. There were no fatalities.[93] The aircraft was on an international cargo flight from Golden Rock Airport, Saint Kitts and Nevis.[92]
- On September 17, 1989, a Tol Air Services Douglas C-47A registered N100DW was damaged beyond economic repair by Hurricane Hugo.[94]
- On September 24, 1998, a Trans-Florida Airlines Convair 240-13 registered N91237 had an engine problem on take-off. It attempted to return to the airport, but lost altitude and was forced to land in a lagoon. Though the aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair and written off, the two crew and one passenger were uninjured.[95][title missing]
- On May 9, 2004, an American Eagle ATR 72 operating Flight 5401 crashed in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the captain lost control of the aircraft while landing. Twenty people were injured, but there were no fatalities.[96]
- On March 15, 2012, a Jet One Express cargo Convair 440 operating a flight to St. Maarten crashed near the airport, killing its two occupants. The plane went down in a lagoon after the pilot reported engine trouble.[97][98]
- On December 2, 2013, an IBC Airways Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III registered N831BC crashed into terrain near La Alianza, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The aircraft was on a cargo flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, when the crew lost control of the aircraft for reasons that could not be determined. Both crew members were killed.[99]
- On June 3, 2017, a fatal crash happened at nearby Piñones Beach when an Air America Airlines airplane, on its way from San Juan to Culebra, tried to perform an emergency landing at the airport, going into the beach's waters instead. A 15-year-old female died, while a 14-year-old female, a 45-year-old male passenger and the aircraft's male pilot were rescued injured but alive.[100]
In popular culture
- Various scenes of the 1976 La Pandilla teen comedy musical La Pandilla en Apuros were filmed at the airport.[101]
- The events of the 2021 film El Cuartito happen at an immigration room in the airport.[102]
