Richmond International Airport fetes new direct route to Puerto Rico

A new route to and from Puerto Rico took on a full celebratory vibe at Gate 4A March 26 at Richmond International Airport with music, food, bright balloons and gifts for the travelers.

Salsa music piped into the entire Airport celebrating the inaugural nonstop flight to and from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan. 

Flyers were treated to a buffet of beef empanadas and pastelillos of guava and cheese from Puerto Rican Bakery Café as well as a sheet cake celebrating carrier Jet Blue’s 20 years flying from RIC.

 The Flying Squirrels’ baseball team mascots added energy dressed in shirts with the league’s name on their costume in Spanish, Ardillas Voladoras.

Those arriving and those travelers departing for the Caribbean Island were treated to gift bags with iconic items from both of the destinations.

With a mostly full flight with spring breakers and travelers visiting family for special occasions, the new route wasn’t established just for its draw as a destination with beautiful beaches, rich culture and remarkable cuisine.

According to RIC officials, 50,000 people fly each year between Richmond and San Juan, making it one of RIC’s top 40 markets.

JetBlue General Manager for Richmond, Philadelphia and Norfolk airports Pamela Rivers, wore a red, white and blue dress in the style of the Puerto Rican flag with matching red heals.

“We see the demand and the demand is good,” said Rivers, who has been to Puerto Rico many times for the beaches’ blue waters, culture and food. “That's my happy place.”

The Puerto Rico JetBlue flight is scheduled to travel both ways three times a week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The airline, known for legroom, free Wi-Fi on all flights, TVs on every seat with free entertainment and free snacks, has established routes from Richmond to Boston, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando.

Travelers disembarking from the flight from La Isla del Encanto got a cheer and a gift bag from airport staff.

Jojo Kessler went for a few days to Puerto Rico to visit her mother. Before the direct flight she had to go either Raleigh, with a direct flight from there, or go through Charlotte to San Juan. She described the ability to take a direct flight as “amazing, such a breeze.”

“I'm gonna be gone every weekend,” said Kessler who described her time in Puerto Rico as beautiful, nice and warm. “It was good to take my mom to her doctor's appointments. Just take care of her.”

Other travelers with small children or elderly parents said the direct flight made it easier to get to their destination, with fewer logistics.

Damaris Perez, the co-owner of Puerto Rican Bakery and Café, said the direct flight makes the cost of traveling back more economical.

"We can travel more often," Perez said.

When Jim Rivera, JetBlue gate agent who wore a pava, the iconic Puerto Rican hat woven of palm fronds, asked the passengers in Spanish if they were ready to board the flight, there were whoops and applause.

Before William Leon Marcos from Ponce, Puerto Rico was rolled onto the plane as the first passenger in a wheelchair, Rivera shouted to the crowd a well-known call and response to identify themselves as native Puerto Ricans: “Yo soy Boricua!”.

 “Pa'que tu lo sepas!” many passengers shouted back, which means in English: “So that you know!”

Melva Washington, another Jet Blue gate agent added another familiar linguistic touch during boarding, encouraging Group B to board in Spanish clarifying: “B cómo Bacalaíto,” using the term for Puerto Rican salted cod fish fritters as a culturally relevant identifier.

“We were going to go to Puerto Rico anyways,” said passenger Tyler Silvestro who was combining his daughters’ school vacation with some work for his work with the urban design firm Marvel, which also has a base in Puerto Rico. “And then it timed perfectly. So, we got very lucky with this flight. Spring break is next week, so that's what we're doing. I didn't know this was the first flight. I'll be going a lot more for work and for fun.”

Richmond International Airport President and CEO Perry Miller said the inaugural flight to San Juan makes the Caribbean more accessible than ever.

“This new route represents a meaningful expansion for the Richmond region, creating new opportunities to visit loved ones, travel for leisure, and strengthen the cultural and educational ties between Virginia and Puerto Rico,” Miller said. “We’re especially proud to mark this milestone as JetBlue celebrates its 20th anniversary at RIC and look forward to seeing this route thrive.”

The flight’s celebration continued onto the tarmac where two fire trucks formed a water arch as the flight rolled away from the gate, before lining up onto the runway to fly south.

Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.