Seaborne’s flight schedule has been designed to provide ample time to make most major airline connections at San Juan’s international airport, airline officials said. Early morning flights leave the Virgin Islands as early as 6:15 am and return as late as 6:15 pm, with flights throughout the day, seven days a week.
     
     Seaborne Airlines will continue to provide service from San Juan’s Isla Grande Airport.
     
     “Seaborne has always been dedicated to meeting the traveling needs of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico communities. On the 10th anniversary of Seaborne service in Puerto Rico, we felt the time was right to provide our guests with the route and airport that they have been asking us to serve for years,” Seaborne President and CEO Omer ErSelcuk said.
     
     Puerto Rico government officials hailed the announcement.
     
     “One of the strategies for the development of air access is to increase the flights offered between the islands of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, which strengthens our position as a hub in the Caribbean,” said Economic Development and Commerce Secretary José Pérez-Riera. “The introduction of Seaborne Airlines flights from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport will help us advance our mission.”
     
     “Air access to Vieques and Culebra is key for their economic development. Certainly the increase of Seaborne Airlines flights will bring a positive economic impact to the islands of Puerto Rico,” added Jamie López, the Department of Economic Development & Commerce’s chief development officer.
     
     Seaborne Airlines is a scheduled U.S. flag carrier operating under the same rules as the major airlines. Seaborne has been in business since 1991 carrying over 200,000 passengers annually. Seaborne Airlines has been serving the U.S. Virgin Islands since 2000. 2011 will mark the 10th anniversary of regional service between the Virgin Islands and San Juan on Seaborne Airlines.