Editing Mercedita International Airport (section)

===Early history===
Built in 1939, Mercedita was originally a modest [[aerodrome]] used for the airborne irrigation of sugarcane fields belonging to [[Destilería Serrallés]].<ref name="prpa.gobierno.pr"/> The airport took the name of the sugarcane plantation that it was part of, [[Hacienda Mercedita]]. The founder of the plantation, [[Juan Serrallés]], had named his plantation in honor of his wife Mercedes.<ref>[http://www.destileriaserralles.com/history.swf ''History.''] Destilería Serrallés. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 6 March 2013.</ref> To commemorate this, a portrait of Mrs. Mercedes Serrallés was unveiled in the airport on 30 December 1992 by then-governor of Puerto Rico [[Rafael Hernandez Colon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adendi.com/archivo.asp?num=95042&year=1992&month=12&keyword=mercedita |title=''No le Hace (el Parentesco), Segun el Gobernador'' |language=es |publisher=El Nuevo Dia |date=31 December 1992 |access-date=5 May 2010}} {{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The takeoff/landing strip was then only {{convert|850|ft|m}} long by {{convert|50|ft|m}} wide.<ref name="prpa.gobierno.pr"/> During World War II it was turned into a military airport, and in 1947 the [[U.S. Navy]] ceded the airport to the [[Puerto Rico Ports Authority]].<ref name="prpa.gobierno.pr"/> The airport officially started operations in April 1948.<ref>[http://www.airnav.com/airport/TJPS AirNav: Mercedita Airport. Information current as of 11 February 2010.] Retrieved 4 March 2010.</ref>

In 1949, however, it was determined that the [[runway]] of what was then the Ponce Airport at the nearby [[Losey Army Airfield|Losey Field]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/PR/Airfields_PR_W.htm |title=Losey Army Airfield |publisher=[[Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields]] |access-date=4 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526061909/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/PR/Airfields_PR_W.html |archive-date=26 May 2010}}</ref> (today, [[Fort Allen (Puerto Rico)|Fort Allen]],<ref>Cristobal Colon. ''"A mis amigos de la Universidad Catolica"'' (in Spanish). Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc. 1993. Page 71.</ref> [[Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico]]) no longer met the newer and more stringent minimum airport safety requirements, and airport operations were suspended. As a result, studies were initiated for the construction of a new airport at Mercedita Airfield.<ref name="prpa.gobierno.pr"/> A wall plaque inside the airport states the airport was built with funds from both the Government of Puerto Rico and the Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce and that it was inaugurated in November 1955. It was officially inaugurated on 6 November 1955, via a day-long program of ceremonies and activities transmitted live via radio, and filmed for subsequent TV broadcasting. During the ceremonies, the project's engineer, Raul Gayá Benejám, made delivery of the new facilities to Salvador V. Caro, executive director of the [[Puerto Rico Ports Authority]].<ref>''Inauguracion del Aeropuerto Mercedita en Ponce: Programa.'' Program booklet. 4pp. Accessed 19 November 2020.</ref>

[[File:USAAF 32d Pursuit Squadron aircraft at Ponce Airfield, Puerto Rico, 1941.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The US Air Force 32nd Fighter Squadron at Mercedita Airport during World War II]]

The first scheduled commercial flights at Mercedita occurred in 1965 when domestic flights started.  International flights started in 1971.<ref>[http://www.periodicolaperla.com/poncenos-pediran-control-del-aeropuerto ''Ponceños pedirán control de Aeropuerto''] (in Spanish). La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.</ref> Meanwhile, [[Prinair|Aerolineas de Ponce]] began services from Mercedita in 1966; the airline had a hub at the airport but soon had most of its flight operating from San Juan instead and changed its name to [[Prinair]].

On 12 August 1981, an [[Air Florida]] plane with 125 [[Haiti]]an refugees aboard landed at Mercedita en route to the [[Fort Allen, Puerto Rico|Fort Allen]] facility in [[Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico|Juana Diaz]], part of the [[Boat people|1981 Haitian refugees exodus]].<ref>[https://www.periodicolaperla.com/exodo-prision-y-libertad-fuerte-allen-a-29-anos-de-un-calvario-con-rostro-haitiano/ ''Fuerte Allen: calvario con rostro haitiano''] Carmen Cila Rodríguez. "El Sur en la Historia." La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 October 2011. Page 18. Retrieved 12 October 2011.</ref>