Rafael Hernandez Airport

Overview

Rafael Hernández International Airport is the main air gateway for Aguadilla on Puerto Rico’s northwest coast, giving travelers practical access to beach towns, surf areas, road trips across the western side of the island, and connections onward to the rest of Puerto Rico. Identified by IATA code BQN and ICAO code TJBQ, it is classified as a medium airport and is often a convenient choice for visitors who want to avoid arriving on the island’s busier metropolitan side before heading west.

Quick facts

• Official name: Rafael Hernández International Airport
• Airport codes: BQN (IATA) and TJBQ (ICAO)
• Location served: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
• Elevation: 237 ft (72 m) above sea level
• Runway: 08/26, 11,702 ft, asphalt, and lighted
• Time zone: America/Puerto_Rico

What matters for travelers

For passengers, the airport’s long lighted runway is a useful indicator of solid operating capability, while its setting in Aguadilla makes it especially appealing for stays in the island’s west and northwest rather than San Juan-based itineraries. If you are planning pickups, meeting drivers, or timing onward travel, use the local time zone listed as America/Puerto_Rico; Puerto Rico stays on Atlantic Standard Time year-round, which helps keep schedules simple. Because western Puerto Rico is best explored by road, many visitors treat BQN as a practical arrival point for reaching beaches, resorts, family stays, and regional towns with less backtracking across the island.