Eugenio María de Hostos Airport
Encyclopedia
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport is a small public airport
located four miles (6 km) north of the central business district
of Mayagüez
, Puerto Rico
. The airport, named after the celebrated Mayagüez native Eugenio Maria de Hostos
, covers 172 acres (70 ha) and has one runway
. It offers limited commercial service, subsidized by the Essential Air Service
program.
, until Rafael Hernández Airport
in Aguadilla
took over that position.
The airport was served heavily by the Puerto Rican national air carrier
, Prinair
, during the 1970s and early 1980s. It took the airport three years to get commercial service again once Prinair went bankrupt in 1984. American Eagle
opened service from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
in 1987, and Eastern Air Lines
, not to be outdone by their rival American's
feeder carrier, soon began services there too, with their own feeder airline, Eastern Metro Express.
Although the airport has always been a turbo-prop aircraft airport, Pan Am announced, in 2002, intentions to install jet flights between Mayagüez and Las Américas International Airport
in Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
, with Boeing 727
s. Those plans never became a reality, but in 2003, the airport gained international status, when Fina Air
picked up the route to Santo Domingo. Fina Air has since gone out of business.
On November 8, 2004, American Eagle filed a 90-day notice of intent to the DOT
to end service to Mayagüez on February 5, 2005 due to poor loads. MAZ is an Essential Air Service
market therefore American Eagle's service was extended by the DOT until the newly selected carrier, Cape Air
, began operations. American Eagle ended operations on April 30, 2005.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located four miles (6 km) north of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Mayagüez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The airport, named after the celebrated Mayagüez native Eugenio Maria de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
, covers 172 acres (70 ha) and has one runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. It offers limited commercial service, subsidized by the Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which, prior to deregulation, were served by certificated airlines, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these...
program.
History
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport used to be the main air gateway to the western region of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, until Rafael Hernández Airport
Rafael Hernández Airport
Rafael Hernández Airport is an airport located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It is named after the Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández Marín. The airport is the second international airport in Puerto Rico in the region of Porta del Sol, Puerto Rico's west coast.Rafael Hernandez Airport mainly...
in Aguadilla
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
took over that position.
The airport was served heavily by the Puerto Rican national air carrier
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, Prinair
Prinair
Prinair was a Puerto Rican airline. It was Puerto Rico's domestic and international flag carrier airline for almost two decades.- History :Services began in 1966, under the name Aerolíneas de Ponce , with Aero Commanders...
, during the 1970s and early 1980s. It took the airport three years to get commercial service again once Prinair went bankrupt in 1984. American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
opened service from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
in 1987, and Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
, not to be outdone by their rival American's
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
feeder carrier, soon began services there too, with their own feeder airline, Eastern Metro Express.
Although the airport has always been a turbo-prop aircraft airport, Pan Am announced, in 2002, intentions to install jet flights between Mayagüez and Las Américas International Airport
Las Américas International Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Accidents and incidents:*On February 15, 1970, a Dominicana de Aviación DC-9 flying to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed, killing all 102 persons on board ....
in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, with Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
s. Those plans never became a reality, but in 2003, the airport gained international status, when Fina Air
Fina Air
Fina Air was an airline based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It operated charter flights to the Dominican Republic from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla and Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez. The airline has now ceased...
picked up the route to Santo Domingo. Fina Air has since gone out of business.
On November 8, 2004, American Eagle filed a 90-day notice of intent to the DOT
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
to end service to Mayagüez on February 5, 2005 due to poor loads. MAZ is an Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which, prior to deregulation, were served by certificated airlines, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these...
market therefore American Eagle's service was extended by the DOT until the newly selected carrier, Cape Air
Cape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
, began operations. American Eagle ended operations on April 30, 2005.
Incidents
The airport has been involved in various air tragedies over its lifetime:- American Eagle Flight 5452American Eagle Flight 5452American Eagle Flight 5424 was a commuter flight between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The flight was operated by Executive Airlines, doing business as American Eagle and was operated by a CASA C-212...
crashed while landing on May 8, 1987, killing two and damaging the airport perimeter fence. - A Prinair HeronHeronThe herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
aircraft fell while landing there, killing all nine passengers. - On June 7, 1992, American Eagle Flight 5456American Eagle Flight 5456The American Eagle Flight 5456 was a scheduled commuter flight between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The flight was operated by Executive Airlines, doing business as American Eagle and was operated by a...
, a CASA C-212 aircraft from San Juan crashed one mile short of runway 9, killing all five people onboard.
External links
- Essential Air Service documents (Docket Number 19622) from the U.S. Department of TransportationUnited States Department of TransportationThe United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
:- Order 2007-4-18: Selecting Hyannis Air Service, d/b/a Cape Air, to provide EAS for two year period beginning May 1, 2007
- Order 2007-2-4: Request for proposals to provide essential air service for two year period beginning May 1, 2007
- Order 2005-3-2: Selecting Hyannis Air Service, d/b/a Cape Air, to provide EAS for two years through April 30, 2007