Airline Crisis not Affecting Tourism, Aviation Chief Says

The international crisis of the airlines, which has prompted layoffs in different carriers, less air routes and higher airfares, “cause neither a reduction of flights nor seats in Dominican tourism, nor in regular flights, nor will run over the passenger who travels from the U.S. to the country”, said Dominican Civil Aviation director Jose Tomas Perez.

He said airlines with low operating costs will fill the vacancies left by large carriers who’ve announced the cancellation of routes, blaming high costs to fly to these, aside from the higher cost of jet fuel.

Perez said the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) is aware that the country’s losing competitiveness against others because of the worldwide fuel increases, and have been already meeting to look for solutions for air transport.

The official said for now the tourism industry doesn’t show signs it’s being affected, since when an airline leaves others enter. The announced new routes and increased frequencies is a good sign that the country’s air market continues being a “coveted dish.”

Perez added that JetBlue will begin 10 weekly flights from the country to the United States, from the airports of Santo Domingo and Santiago to New York.