Air Flamenco
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Rubén Torres |
| Headquarters | San Juan , Puerto Rico |
Area served | Puerto Rico, Leeward Islands, Dominican Republic, US and British Virgin Islands |
| Products | Passenger transport, Cargo services (Flamenco Cargo) |
Air Flamenco is a commuter airline functioning as an air taxi service, operated by Air Charter, Inc., and headquartered in Puerto Rico.
History
The airline began its journey in 1976 under the name Flamenco Airways, established by Rubén Torres. Its first aircraft was a Piper Cherokee 6, providing service between Culebra and Vieques. Within half a year, the company expanded its fleet by adding a twin-engine Britten-Norman Islander with seating for nine passengers, which allowed it to broaden both passenger transport and US postal deliveries connecting Vieques, Culebra, and Puerto Rico’s main island. Over the course of five years, the fleet increased to six planes, enabling the airline to offer charter flights throughout the Caribbean region, including destinations within the US and British Virgin Islands. In 2009, two more Britten Norman Islanders were incorporated specifically for cargo operations.
Air Flamenco maintains operations from four key locations: Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (Isla Grande Airport) in San Juan; José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico; Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport on Culebra; and Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport on Vieques. Its route network encompasses Puerto Rico, the Leeward Islands, and the Dominican Republic. The airline holds the distinction of being the largest operator of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.
Fleet
These aircraft are utilized for both passenger transport and freight services through Flamenco Cargo, which is Air Flamenco’s specialized cargo division.
Accidents
- On September 29, 2004, a Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander (registration N902GD) carrying bank financial documents from Mayagüez to Isla Grande Airport crashed into the ocean following severe rainfall conditions. This accident resulted in one fatality.
- Another incident involved aircraft N909GD of the same model, which crashed near Luis Peña on October 6, 2013, during a flight carrying newspapers from Ceiba to Culebra. The pilot was alone on board and did not survive.