The Dominican Republic’s international air market has proven its resilience during 2021 by achieving higher traffic figures during the last part of the year than in the pre-pandemic period. In addition, the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) granted 48 new international routes to both Dominican and foreign companies.
New services have been inaugurated to Kazan (Russia); Kiev/Boryspil (Ukraine); Bucharest (Romania) or Katowice (Poland). Thus, the European market has been an essential actor in the Dominican Republic, since the main tourist destinations in Asia-Pacific have remained closed for tourism.
«By the end of 2021, we have developed and applied the guiding principles of a tangible policy of Open Skies, through the approval of routes and flight frequencies, the conclusion of new air service agreements and the ratification and amendments of those already concluded, which means greater connectivity of the Dominican Republic with the rest of the world,» said Marte Piantini, president of the JAC.
«We have also carried out the necessary actions to encourage and promote the development of national civil aviation,» he added.
See also: During ICAN 2021 Dominican Republic negotiates air agreements with eight countries
At ICAN2021, the Dominican Republic encouraged the expansion of air connectivity through significant contacts, meetings, and negotiations with the Czech Republic, Argentina, Cuba, Kuwait, Rwanda, Spain, Guatemala, and Brazil.
As a result of the actions previously outlined, it is estimated that the country closed 2021 with a total of 10.7 million passengers transported to and from the country, representing a 73.8% recovery compared to 2019 (last year without pandemic), which translates into approximately US$9,926 million in direct and indirect income for the country.
According to the Central Bank, tourism accounts for 8.4% of the country’s economy, however, the Ministry of Tourism says the true impact of the sector is closer to 30%, when considering ancillary services.
The government has made efforts to maintain tourism afloat by keeping the borders open. They have focused on implementing vaccines, particularly in the tourism and hotel sector. In addition, until April 2021, the country provided free medical and travel insurance to tourists, protecting visitors from additional accommodation bills if they fell ill.
Routes enabled by JAC Dominicana
The companies that have applied for routes were Eurowings Discover with operations to and from Germany; LOT Polish Airlines with the unprecedented operation to Katowice; Kiev/Boryspil by Azur Air Ukraine and Ukraine International Airlines and to Romania by Gullivair. Russian airlines played a major role with Aeroflot, Pegas Fly, Azur Air, Nordwind Airlines, and Royal Flight.
Routes in South America have been authorized to Avianca, VIVA, and Wingo from Colombia and SKY Peru from Lima.
National airlines are also looking for expansion in the country; Air Century from its base in Santo Domingo/Las Higueras requested nine destinations, including landing in Colombia, and the startup Red Air to the United States, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Colombia.
Arajet will consolidate its position as the Dominican Republic’s first low-cost carrier by 2022 and has endorsed flights to the United States, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mexico, Panama, Aruba, French Guyana, Guatemala, Republic of Peru, Haiti, Canada and Trinidad, and Tobago.
