Departure
95%
vs 95%
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport lies four miles north of Mayagüez on Puerto Rico's west coast, a single-runway field that once served as the principal air gateway to the island's western region. Named for the Mayagüez-born educator and patriot, it remains a modest but active airport supporting Essential Air Service flights to San Juan, and offers a straightforward VFR destination for pilots exploring western Puerto Rico.
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport (ICAO: TJMZ, IATA: MAZ) serves Mayagüez, a coastal city on the west side of Puerto Rico, and sits under the ownership of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority. It offers limited domestic commercial service subsidised under the US Essential Air Service programme, and its history as the historic hub for western Puerto Rico's air links makes it an interesting stop for a simulator pilot tracing the island's aviation past.
The airport is located about four miles north of Mayagüez, on Puerto Rico's western coastline, at coordinates 18.2557 N, 67.1485 W. Air traffic in the area is worked by San Juan Center, and clearance delivery is available on a discrete frequency, indicating the field operates within controlled airspace served from San Juan.
The airport has a single physical runway, 09/27, roughly 4,990 to 4,991 feet long with a hard surface and runway lighting. There is no ILS approach available.
Radio services include an aerodrome frequency (A/D) on 118.75 MHz, San Juan Center on the same frequency, clearance delivery (CLD) on 121.7 MHz, a radio/navigation aid (RDO) associated with San Juan Radio on 110.6 MHz, and a UNICOM/CTAF frequency on 122.8 MHz. There is no ILS at the field.
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport once served as the main air gateway to western Puerto Rico before Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla assumed that role. Caribair operated services from San Juan during the 1960s, followed by heavy use by the Puerto Rican national carrier Prinair through the 1970s and early 1980s; Prinair at one point flew De Havilland Heron aircraft from Mayagüez to Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, giving the field international status. After Prinair's 1984 bankruptcy, commercial service did not resume for three years until American Eagle began flights from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in 1987, soon followed by Eastern Air Lines' feeder carrier, Eastern Metro Express. Pan Am announced plans in 2002 to introduce Boeing 727 jet service to Santo Domingo, though this never materialised; instead, Fina Air restored the airport's international status on that route in 2003 before going out of business. American Eagle sought to end service in 2005 but was required to continue under Essential Air Service rules until Cape Air took over operations. The airport has seen a small number of serious incidents, including the 1987 crash of American Eagle Flight 5452 on landing, which damaged the airport perimeter fence and caused two deaths, and the 1992 crash of American Eagle Flight 5456, a CASA C-212 that went down one mile short of runway 9, killing all five aboard. A light aircraft accident also occurred in March 2014, when a Piper Cub was overturned by wind after landing, injuring the pilot.
The airport continues to host limited Essential Air Service flights, with Cape Air operating scheduled service to San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. It has always principally handled turboprop aircraft rather than jets. Pilots planning a visit should confirm current operating hours and any prior permission requirements locally, as these are not detailed in the available records.