By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Dominican Republic and Guatemala Sign Open Skies Agreement
The Domincan Republic and Guatemale have entered into an Open Skies Agreement.
The new agreement will allow airlines to combine different flight numbers in aircraft operations, as well as Sixth Freedom traffic rights for passengers on routes operated by designated airlines for both countries and beyond.
Finally, up to seven freedom air traffic rights will be allowed for exclusively cargo flights. In addition, the agreement provides that designated airlines can carry out operations under the shared code regime and on non-scheduled or charter flights.
This agreement will make possible the expansion of flights between the countries and will help airlines to operate between the two territories without frequency limits. Furthermore, the new accordance shows the commitment of both nations to strengthen and contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations in the field of civil aviation.
Air traffic between the Dominican Republic and Guatemala is carried out through flights under the modality of special permits and non-regular or charter flights.
So far, there are no established routes with nonstop flights. According to a press release from the Civil Aviation Board of the Dominican Republic, since 2018 some 36,838 Guatemalan travelers have arrived in the Dominican Republic.
However, the arrival of these has been through flights with a stopover in Tocumen, Panama or Ft. Lauderdale, F.L.
The Open Skies agreement implemented by the Dominican Republic has generated a more competitive market for users of air services in the country.
According to a press release, the approval of these agreements has made it possible to increase the country’s air connectivity. Airlines such as Iberia and British Airways have benefited from Open Skies Agreements.
Flights from London and Madrid to the Dominican Republic have increased compared to previous years. On the other hand, special permits are granted to carriers to operate routes not contained in their operating permits. This special permission has the purpose to explore the commercial viability to regularize them in the future.
For example, the Dominican Republic Government granted special permission to Air Antilles Express to operate routes to and from the Caribbean country.
This carrier will carry out 10 round-trip flights on in Fort de France, Martinique to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic via Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe to Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic. The carrier’s flight operations on its routes from Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe to Fort de France, Martinique and Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic will also be a part of this schedule. Air Antilles Express will operate five on each route, from July 24 to Aug. 21, with a frequency of one weekly flight on each route operating on Sundays.
The Dominican Republic continues to exceed expectations and break passenger traffic records in the past several months.
From May 1 to May 31 of this year, 1,226,056 passengers were transported by air on international flights through Dominican terminals in 9,170 air operations.
From the 1,226,056 passengers transported on international flights to and from the country, 602,726 passengers entered Dominican territory while 684,285 left.
Regarding cargo operations, from January 1 to April 30, international terminals mobilized more than 31 thousand tons in exports, which represent the capture of more than $1.1 billion in income, and more than 12 thousand tons in imports.
The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.
