Air Caribbean (Puerto Rico)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Headquarters | San Juan , Puerto Rico |
Area served | Caribbean region |
| Products | Passenger air transport |
Air Caribbean was active during the 1970s, operating out of Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan. This era saw intense rivalry among Puerto Rican carriers such as Prinair, Vieques Air Link, and Dorado Wings. Established in 1975 with the aim of gaining a share of the market, Air Caribbean specialized in serving regional destinations throughout the Caribbean.
At Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, dominant international airlines like American Airlines, Delta, Eastern, and Pan Am presented stiff competition. To avoid the high expenses associated with jet operations to far-off cities, Puerto Rican carriers including Air Caribbean concentrated on short-haul flights to nearby islands. The airline primarily utilized DC-3 aircraft and leased Beech 18 planes, connecting routes to adjacent islands as well as to Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla. Together with Prinair, Air Caribbean played a vital role in maintaining commercial air links to Aguadilla and improving access to the close-by town of Quebradillas.
Air Caribbean's lifespan coincided with difficult circumstances for the aviation sector, including the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 and the deregulation of U.S. airlines. Furthermore, competition from Aero Virgin Islands, headquartered in the U.S. Virgin Islands, proved too strong. The airline ultimately discontinued services in 1979. Among the regional carriers from that period, only Prinair and Vieques Air Link continue operations today, with Prinair having recommenced flights in 2019.
Accidents and incidents
- On September 26, 1978, an Air Caribbean-leased Beech 18 crashed near Residencial Las Casas while attempting to land at Isla Verde Airport in San Juan. The aircraft was operating flight 309 from Ramey base airport in Aguadilla at the time. All six passengers and crew onboard lost their lives, and several individuals at a nearby bar sustained injuries. The accident was attributed to wake turbulence caused by an Eastern Airlines L-1011. This tragedy significantly undermined public trust in the airline.