US airfares to Puerto Rico slide; debt crisis, Zika weigh

US airlines have slashed leisure fares to Puerto Rico in recent months to lure travellers to the debt-strapped island, hit by economic turmoil and lately the arrival of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The lowest fares to San Juan have fallen 22% on average from a year ago, according to an early February analysis of 6 of the busiest US domestic routes to the island's capital by Harrell Associates, shared exclusively with Reuters. The drop outpaced an 18% fall nationwide in the high-restriction fares during that time, according to the travel consultancy's analysis. "It's a combination of slack demand in both directions," said an airline industry consultant. "Leisure travellers going to Puerto Rico are concerned both about the state of the economy and the extent to which leisure resort facilities are going to be properly maintained," he said. <br/>