Apple Leisure Group is competing with cruise lines to attract the business of American travelers to Mexico and the Caribbean. Like cruise lines trying to win over first-time cruisers, Apple Leisure Group is attempting to get Americans who have never had a passport before to get off the couch and experience their first foreign vacations.
It's difficult to attract tourists without providing them an easy and convenient way to travel to the destination. Puerto Rico is putting the infrastructure in place to pave the way to great tourism revenues.
This is the first step in Southwest's anticipated takeover of subsidiary AirTan's international flights and to Southwest's greater route expansion through Latin America.
Some Caribbean nations aren't nearly as cruise-dependent as the industry would have you believe, but others still rely heavily on the jobs and cash flow the ships provide.
JetBlue's Caribbean destination focus helps set it apart, which is an important tactic in a moment when fare and amenity competition has grown increasingly tight.
A series of major storms and stringent work schedules has made the Caribbean the ideal location for Americans looking for warm weekend getaways that are no more than a few hours' flight away.