Puertorriqueña de Aviación, previously known as Aerovías Nacionales de Puerto Rico (alternatively known as ANPRI) was an airline company that operated during the 1930s. It was the first documented attempt by Puerto Ricans to have a flag carrier in the country.[1]
1937 was an important year for the airline, as the company tried to get air mail contracts. The company struggled in its attempt at getting proper authorization to use postage stamps as a way to suffrage their air mail transports.[clarification needed] On April 27, however, Aerovías Nacionales got permission to proceed with the charge of stamps, and by April 28, customers had to pay shipping of goods on Aerovías Nacionales. Costs for shipping were 3 cents on inter-Puerto Rican island flights and 10 cents on other flights. In 1938, Aerovías Nacionales began issuing their own logo-stamps, which cost 5 cents each. These were used as tax payments, therefore the range of air mail shipping costs on Aerovías Nacionales rose to 8 cents for inter-Puerto Rican islands flights and 15 cents for flights to other Caribbean spots.[1]
At this point in their history, Aerovias Nacionales de Puerto Rico had US$120,000 ($2.44 million in 2022 dollars) of authorized capital; it flew routes from San Juan to Ponce, Guanica, Guayama, Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Fajardo, and Saint Thomas as well as from Fajardo to Vieques and from Saint Thomas to Saint Croix. The airline apparently had plans to buy a Beechcraft airplane which would have allowed the airline to operate flights carrying up to 600 pounds (weight) each.[2]
By then, Dennis Powelson, who was a company pilot for the famed Don QPuerto Rican rum brand, had established his own airline, Powelson Airlines. The Airline would provide Aerovías Nacionales with stiff competition; from May 15 to May 21 of 1938, the USPS organized a race between the two airlines in order to give the winning airline air mail routes. Aerovías Nacionales' airplane was not able to perform its duty and Felix Juan Serrallés Sanchez (1911-1985), who took off from Mercedita Airport in Ponce, won the race for the Powelson Airlines.[1]
On March 22, 1941, a second set of stamps to be used by package senders on Aerovías Nacionales was issued. The total number of different Aerovías Nacionales stamps released in 1941 was eight. Currently, Aerovías Nacionales de Puerto Rico stamps are considered to be collector's items because of the scarcity of such stamps.[1]
^ abcdefgGonzález, Luis. [Beginning of Air Mail in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico] (in Spanish). Yunque.net. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
^"Aerovias NPR - Aerovias Nacionales Puerto Rico".
External linksedit
in Spanish
November 01, 2023
puertorriqueña, aviación, previously, known, aerovías, nacionales, puerto, rico, alternatively, known, anpri, airline, company, that, operated, during, 1930s, first, documented, attempt, puerto, ricans, have, flag, carrier, country, iata, icao, callsign, found. Puertorriquena de Aviacion previously known as Aerovias Nacionales de Puerto Rico alternatively known as ANPRI was an airline company that operated during the 1930s It was the first documented attempt by Puerto Ricans to have a flag carrier in the country 1 Puertorriquena de AviacionIATA ICAO Callsign Founded1936Ceased operations1941Operating basesSan Juan Puerto RicoFleet sizeSee Fleet belowDestinationsSee Destinations belowHeadquartersSan Juan Puerto RicoKey peopleHoracio and Narciso Basso Contents 1 History 2 Fleet 3 Destinations 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 1936 brothers Horacio and Narciso Basso acquired a hydroplane to start commercial airline flights around the Caribbean 1 ANPRI started flights from San Juan to Vieques St Thomas St Croix and Culebra These flights allegedly took off from Residencial Las Casas which at the time was a military base and was the place where the first Puerto Rican pilot Felix Rigau Carrera took off on his first flight as a pilot The hydroplane that Aerovias Nacionales used was named Kofresi after the famous pirate Roberto Cofresi 1 1937 was an important year for the airline as the company tried to get air mail contracts The company struggled in its attempt at getting proper authorization to use postage stamps as a way to suffrage their air mail transports clarification needed On April 27 however Aerovias Nacionales got permission to proceed with the charge of stamps and by April 28 customers had to pay shipping of goods on Aerovias Nacionales Costs for shipping were 3 cents on inter Puerto Rican island flights and 10 cents on other flights In 1938 Aerovias Nacionales began issuing their own logo stamps which cost 5 cents each These were used as tax payments therefore the range of air mail shipping costs on Aerovias Nacionales rose to 8 cents for inter Puerto Rican islands flights and 15 cents for flights to other Caribbean spots 1 At this point in their history Aerovias Nacionales de Puerto Rico had US 120 000 2 44 million in 2022 dollars of authorized capital it flew routes from San Juan to Ponce Guanica Guayama Aguadilla Mayaguez Fajardo and Saint Thomas as well as from Fajardo to Vieques and from Saint Thomas to Saint Croix The airline apparently had plans to buy a Beechcraft airplane which would have allowed the airline to operate flights carrying up to 600 pounds weight each 2 By then Dennis Powelson who was a company pilot for the famed Don Q Puerto Rican rum brand had established his own airline Powelson Airlines The Airline would provide Aerovias Nacionales with stiff competition from May 15 to May 21 of 1938 the USPS organized a race between the two airlines in order to give the winning airline air mail routes Aerovias Nacionales airplane was not able to perform its duty and Felix Juan Serralles Sanchez 1911 1985 who took off from Mercedita Airport in Ponce won the race for the Powelson Airlines 1 On March 22 1941 a second set of stamps to be used by package senders on Aerovias Nacionales was issued The total number of different Aerovias Nacionales stamps released in 1941 was eight Currently Aerovias Nacionales de Puerto Rico stamps are considered to be collector s items because of the scarcity of such stamps 1 Fleet edit1 Hydroplane 1 Destinations editCulebra Puerto Rico St Croix United States Virgin Islands St Thomas USVI Vieques Puerto Rico Aguadilla Fajardo Guanica Guayama Mayaguez PonceSee also edit nbsp Companies portal nbsp Aviation portalList of defunct airlines of the United States CabotageReferences edit a b c d e f g Gonzalez Luis Inicios del Correo Aereo en el Caribe y Puerto Rico Beginning of Air Mail in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico in Spanish Yunque net Archived from the original on December 15 2013 Retrieved June 3 2015 Aerovias NPR Aerovias Nacionales Puerto Rico External links edityunque net in Spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Puertorriquena de Aviacion amp oldid 1100546206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
