An analysis piece argues that Puerto Rico’s status debate (traditionally limited to statehood, independence, free association, or the current territorial arrangement) should also consider reunification with Spain as an economic question, not dismiss it as fantasy.
At FITUR 2026 in Madrid, officials projected round-trip capacity on the route growing from about 242,000 to more than 273,000 seats in 2026, a 13% increase. In 2025, Puerto Rico’s international air seat capacity grew 16% overall, with Spain-related capacity up 20%; visits from Spain rose 116% year-over-year, with seats from Spain projected to rise another 46% in 2026.