Borinquen Air
A Puerto Rico-based charter airline operating regional passenger and cargo services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Borinquen Air is a Puerto Rico-based charter airline established in 1961. The carrier operates under several business names, including Amber Service, Air Puerto Rico and Diaz Aviation, and has specialized in regional passenger and cargo flying rather than competing as a large scheduled network airline. Its base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in the San Juan area. The airline's activities have included charter and regional passenger operations, cargo transport and aviation-fuel sales. Since 1985, it has also been involved in selling aviation fuel, giving the business a commercial role beyond aircraft operations. The available reference material identifies the company as operating both passenger and cargo flights, with its service profile shaped by Puerto Rico's links to the wider Caribbean and the United States. Borinquen Air has operated a varied fleet over time. Aircraft associated with the airline and its trading names have included Beechcraft Model 18s, Douglas DC-3s, Douglas DC-6s, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, Martin 4-0-4s and Short 330s. The fleet history reflects the carrier's long-running role in small-scale regional and cargo aviation, including the use of piston aircraft and, for a period, a jet aircraft on routes linking Puerto Rico with destinations such as Miami, Montego Bay and Santo Domingo. One of the airline's most notable aircraft associations involved Douglas DC-3 N29PR, which had previously been operated by Delta Air Lines as one of that carrier's five original DC-3 aircraft. During the 1990s, aviation enthusiasts traced the aircraft, by then flying cargo for Air Puerto Rico, and identified it as the historic aircraft known as Delta Ship 41. Borinquen Air sold the aircraft back to Delta, and it was transported to Atlanta in 1993. The aircraft was subsequently placed on display at Delta's Air Transport Heritage Museum. The company has also experienced two documented DC-3 accidents in the late 1980s. In July 1986, N27PR crashed into a lagoon while returning toward Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport after an engine failure shortly after departure; one of the two pilots died. In March 1989, N28PR ditched off Isla Verde during approach after an engine failure on a Diaz Aviation-branded cargo flight. Both occupants survived. These incidents form part of the airline's publicly documented operational history but are not described in the available material as evidence of a broader corporate scandal. Sixto Diaz Saldaña, a member of the founding family, is identified as the airline's general manager, sole shareholder and a licensed attorney. The supplied reference does not provide a current fleet count beyond a January 2013 snapshot, nor does it establish a detailed present-day route network, revenue profile or corporate website. Borinquen Air is therefore best characterized as a privately owned Puerto Rican charter and regional aviation business with passenger, cargo and aviation-fuel activities.
History
Borinquen Air was founded in Puerto Rico in 1961 and developed as a small charter and regional aviation company. Its business has included both passenger and cargo operations, with the carrier using multiple trading names over time, notably Air Puerto Rico and Diaz Aviation. The company is based at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, Puerto Rico's principal international airport and an important gateway between the island, the mainland United States and the Caribbean. The airline's operating history has been characterized by flexible use of aircraft and markets. Its former fleet included Douglas DC-6 and Martin 4-0-4 piston aircraft, a Short 330 turboprop and a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jet. During the 1980s, the DC-9 registered N931EA was used on flights connecting Puerto Rico with Miami, Montego Bay in Jamaica and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft left the fleet in 1987, while the company's broader activity continued to include smaller regional and cargo aircraft. Borinquen Air's business expanded beyond flying in 1985, when it entered aviation-fuel sales. This added a support and supply function to its passenger and cargo operations. The available source describes the company as continuing to operate regional passenger and cargo flights, although it does not provide a complete current schedule or a detailed account of its later fleet. The carrier's aircraft history includes a particularly notable Douglas DC-3. N29PR was one of Delta Air Lines' five original DC-3 aircraft and was known as Delta Ship 41. By the early 1990s, it was still active in Puerto Rico, carrying cargo for Air Puerto Rico. A group of retired aviation enthusiasts located the aircraft and established its connection to Delta's early fleet. Borinquen Air sold the DC-3 to Delta, and it was returned to Atlanta in 1993. The aircraft is now associated with Delta's aviation heritage collection. Two serious accidents involving Borinquen Air DC-3s occurred in the late 1980s. On 22 July 1986, N27PR suffered a starboard-engine failure shortly after takeoff while operating a cargo flight toward Golden Rock Airport. The crew attempted to return to San Juan, but the aircraft crashed into a lagoon; one pilot was killed. On 1 March 1989, N28PR, operating under the Diaz Aviation name, experienced a port-engine failure while approaching San Juan from Golden Rock Airport. The aircraft ditched off Isla Verde, and both people aboard survived. The available material attributes the unsuccessful continuation of flight to drag associated with an unfeathered propeller after the landing gear had been retracted. The airline is identified as being led by Sixto Diaz Saldaña, a member of the founding family. He is described as general manager, sole shareholder and a licensed attorney. Publicly supplied information does not establish a broader executive team, a listed-company structure, financial results or a current detailed fleet beyond a January 2013 snapshot. That snapshot identified two aircraft: a Beechcraft Model 18 configured for seven passengers and a cargo-configured Douglas DC-3. Borinquen Air's documented identity is therefore that of a long-established, privately owned Puerto Rican charter operator combining regional passenger flying, cargo work and aviation-fuel sales.
- 2013
Documented two-aircraft fleet
[1]A January 2013 fleet snapshot lists a seven-passenger Beechcraft Model 18 and a cargo-configured Douglas DC-3.
- 1993
Delta Ship 41 returns to Delta
[1]Borinquen Air sells historic DC-3 N29PR back to Delta Air Lines, which returns it to Atlanta for preservation.
- 1989
N28PR DC-3 ditching
[1]A Diaz Aviation-branded cargo DC-3 ditches off Isla Verde after an engine failure; the two occupants survive.
- 1987
DC-9 leaves the fleet
[1]The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 registered N931EA, previously used on Caribbean and Miami routes, is retired from the airline's fleet.
- 1986
N27PR DC-3 accident
[1]A Borinquen Air cargo DC-3 crashes into a lagoon while attempting to return to San Juan after an engine failure; one pilot dies.
- 1985
Aviation-fuel sales added
[1]The company begins selling aviation fuel in addition to operating passenger and cargo flights.
- 1961
Borinquen Air is founded
[1]The Puerto Rican charter and regional aviation company is established.
Products and positioning
A privately owned Puerto Rican regional and charter aviation operator serving passenger, cargo and related aviation-fuel needs.
Passenger aviation
Regional passenger charter flights
Borinquen Air provides regional and charter passenger flying from Puerto Rico. The supplied material does not establish a complete current timetable or route list, but identifies the business as a passenger carrier serving Puerto Rico and nearby Caribbean markets. A January 2013 fleet reference listed a Beechcraft Model 18 configured to carry seven passengers.
Air cargo
Cargo air transport
Cargo flying is a significant part of Borinquen Air's documented operating history. The airline and its associated trading names used Douglas DC-3 aircraft for freight operations, including flights between Puerto Rico and the eastern Caribbean. The January 2013 fleet snapshot identified a cargo-configured DC-3.
Aviation services · 1985
Aviation fuel sales
Since 1985, the company has also been involved in selling aviation fuel. This activity complements its flight operations and gives Borinquen Air a role in aviation support services as well as air transport. The available material does not specify the locations, volume or current scope of fuel sales.
Recent events
- 1993
Historic Delta Ship 41 returned to Delta[1]
Other
Borinquen Air sold Douglas DC-3 N29PR, a former Delta aircraft known as Delta Ship 41, back to Delta Air Lines after aviation enthusiasts identified its historical significance. The aircraft was flown to Atlanta and later displayed at Delta's Air Transport Heritage Museum.
- 1989
Diaz Aviation DC-3 ditches off Isla Verde[1]
Other
Douglas DC-3 N28PR ditched in the sea off Isla Verde during approach to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport after a port-engine failure on a cargo flight from Golden Rock Airport. Both occupants survived.
- 1986
Borinquen Air DC-3 crashes into a lagoon after engine failure[1]
Other
A Borinquen Air Douglas DC-3 registered N27PR crashed into a lagoon while returning toward Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport after a starboard-engine failure shortly after departure. The cargo flight had been scheduled for Golden Rock Airport in Saint Kitts and Nevis. One of the two pilots died.
Sources1 sources
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