Pan Am plans daily flights from Sanford to San Juan

Maria M. Perotin
of the Orlando Sentinel Staff
Posted January 26, 2001

Pan American Airlines will begin daily flights in May from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Puerto Rico, elbowing into a route now dominated by two of the nation's largest carriers.

Pan Am, the one-time industry giant that all but disappeared into bankruptcy in 1991, has eyed San Juan since a new owner launched the reborn carrier in 1999. In fact, the airline initially announced it would fly from Sanford to the island two years ago, but then opted to build a less-ambitious stateside base first.

Dan Fortnam, Pan Am's vice president for marketing, said the New Hampshire-based carrier is eager to bolster its operation beyond its current seven destinations.

"Now is the time," Fortnam said. "The airline's been running for over a year, and now we're strong enough to enter this new market."

Pan Am, which has provided the Sanford airport's only domestic flights since 1999, hopes to lure both Puerto Rican tourists and local passengers to the small airport, which touts itself as a less-hectic alternative to sprawling Orlando International Airport.

Although Pan Am's move into the Caribbean has been on the radar screen for more than a year, the flight launch comes at a time when the region's dominant carriers -- American Airlines and TWA -- are planning a merger. Travelers have raised concerns about rising fares and less-convenient schedules if an even-larger American strengthens its hold there.

It's unclear what changes American would make to the scheduled flights between Orlando International and San Juan, where American now flies three daily trips and TWA has two. ATA also has one daily flight between the cities.

Travelers' pleas for more airline competition could bode well for Pan Am, which hopes to follow up the Puerto Rico service with flights to other Caribbean islands, Fortnam said.

"The American-TWA situation is really not a factor in our decision," Fortnam said. "But I think it will enhance our opportunities."

Pan Am's history in the Caribbean dates to the 1920s, when the airline flew between Key West and Cuba.

Paul Ferguson, president of San Juan-based Travel Services Inc. and a California native, said he became a frequent Pan Am flier when he moved to Puerto Rico in 1955. With Orlando one of Puerto Rican travelers' favorite destinations, he expects the revamped airline to attract plenty of customers.

"Pan Am was our lifeline to America for us expatriates," he said. "I'm sure it will have immediate acceptance by the Puerto Rican community."

The airline's Fortnam said he expects the bulk of its passengers at first will be Puerto Ricans traveling to theme-park vacations. But he hopes the carrier's flights also will become popular with Central Florida residents whose roots are in Puerto Rico.

"I call it 'VFR' traffic -- visiting friends and relatives. It's going to be a big part of the business," he said.