Although it has been widely reported that the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan fully resumed its normal flight schedule on October 4, that doesn't mean airlines are ceasing their relief efforts into Puerto Rico.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
JetBlue
On Saturday, October 7, JetBlue announced it had delivered 110 tons (220,000 pounds) of supplies to Puerto Rico in just one day. To accomplish the feat, JetBlue teamed up with air charter company Atlas Air Worldwide, which donated a 747 cargo plane to get the much-needed supplies from New York to San Juan.
The delivery is just one step for JetBlue in fulfilling its 100x35JetBlue program, which it rolled out last week. The campaign, named after Puerto Rico's famed 100x35 mile dimensions, promises to launch 35 initiatives over 100 days to support the immediate needs of crewmembers, customers, and communities in Puerto Rico.
As part of this initiative, JetBlue has collected donations from a variety of organizations, including Atlas Air, as well as the Food Bank For New York City, American Red Cross and the Afya Foundation.
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"We've been sending relief supplies to Puerto Rico since the first day flights were allowed onto the island following Hurricane Maria," said Icema Gibbs, director corporate social responsibility, JetBlue. "The amount of donated supplies has far exceeded our expectations and has surpassed the capacities of our commercial Airbus A320 fleet. Atlas Air, a fellow New York airline, sharing our commitment to assist the people of Puerto Rico, immediately stepped up to support, offering the use of one of their 747 cargo aircraft. We thank them for their incredible assistance and care for these communities."
The 747 aircraft was loaded with:
-A variety of supplies from the New York Governor Cuomo's office.
-Supplies from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to assist the San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin Airport in rebuilding its infrastructure.
-Non-perishable food and critical supplies from the Food Bank For New York City which are being sent to its sister food bank, Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico. Items include water, shelf-stable food and other supplies, like diapers and feminine hygiene products.
-JetBlue and its crewmembers sending relief supplies to crewmembers and family in Puerto Rico.
-Medical supplies from the Afya Foundation and American Red Cross.
"Atlas Air Worldwide is pleased to have partnered with JetBlue in this humanitarian effort," said Bill Flynn, president and CEO, Atlas Air Worldwide. "By joining with JetBlue and donating our aircraft and crew, the supplies that have been gathered and donated by Governor Cuomo and the generous people and organizations in New York will be delivered to Puerto Rico in the quickest and most efficient way possible."
In San Juan, Zach Honig, the editor of The Points Guy, describes Jet Blue's relief distribution center as a "makeshift Costco." Set up in a ballroom at a hotel inside the San Juan Airport, the distribution center is operated by JetBlue volunteers from its hub airports and allows Puerto Rico-based employees to stock up on the supplies they need. The only thing rationed, writes Honig, are the cases of water.
For the next three months, JetBlue will also invite customers on all flights to donate to their campaign at GlobalGiving. The airline's goal is $1 million, including $500,000 from passengers and a promise to match donations dollar-for-dollar from JetBlue. Customers can also contribute at GlobalGiving.org/jetblue. GlobalGiving will distribute the funds to non-profits throughout hurricane-affected areas.
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United Airlines
Meanwhile, United Airlines is also doing its part in recovery efforts. On Wednesday, October 4, the airline flew a 777-300-one of the largest aircraft in its fleet-to San Juan. The flight was filled with volunteers, including doctors, nurses, engineers and truck drivers to help with recovery efforts throughout the islands. According to a tweet by United, volunteers represented 20 unions from 17 states around the country. Also on board were more than 35,000 pounds of supplies to be donated to area charities.
A compendium of relief efforts can be viewed at a Twitter Moments feed on United Airline's Twitter page.
American Airlines
Also doing its part, American Airlines has provided more than 110 flights into and out of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) since the hurricane struck, allowing the airline to "transport significant amounts of passengers and relief supplies."
"At every opportunity, American team members have worked to bring aid to those impacted by the recent natural disasters and the people of Puerto Rico," said Jim Butler, American's Senior Vice President of International and Cargo Operations. "American was the first carrier to resume limited operations in San Juan and we have been able to upgrade to larger aircraft and reroute planes to make the biggest impact. Last week was the first time our 777-300ER touched down in Puerto Rico. Utilizing this aircraft allowed us to bring 50,326 pounds of support including food, water, medical supplies and more on a single flight."
American Airlines has more than 400 team members live in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The airline has also sent nine relief flights, carrying more than one million pounds of supplies to other affected areas, including St. Croix (STX), St. Maarten (SXM), St. Thomas (STT) and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS).
American is also working with a number of area charities, including UNICEF to match customer donations.
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Delta Air Lines
Delta has also been operating relief flights to Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean, including one to San Juan on Friday, September 29, carrying workers, government officials and 50 state troopers, who would help remove debris and support other recovery efforts. Also on board were emergency suppliers and generators
Last week, the Atlanta-based airline announced it was teaming up with fellow Atlanta company UPS to fly 60 pallets of emergency supply kits and more than 60 pallets of water, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Allegiant Air
Although Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air has been less inclined to use Puerto Rico as a PR tool, various social media posts from Allegiant employees chronicle the airline's relief efforts. Allegiant, which only just began serving San Juan last December, has flown a number of relief flights to Puerto Rico, delivering water and supplies.
The airline has also been carrying, free of charge, evacuees back to the mainland.
On one of these flights, a flight attendant provided a particularly stirring moment as he serenaded passengers from San Juan with a rendition of "Preciosa," a popular ballad about Puerto Rico.
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