The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) approved the operating permit for three new airlines to and from the country.
These are the Colombian airlines, Aerorepública and Fast Colombia Viva Air, which will operate the Medellín-Santo Domingo route and Swoop, a Canadian airline, which will operate on WestJet Airlines on the Toronto-Punta Cana route.
The president of the Aviation Board, José Marte Piantini, explained about the approval of the new air operators, that the airline Aerorepública is the holder of operating permit number 87, valid until 9 May 2024, issued by the JAC.
Marte Piantini pointed out that this authorizes the aforementioned airline to offer regular air transport services of passengers, cargo and mail between Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
The aeronautical official indicated that the start of operations on the aforementioned route is projected for December of this year, and will be carried out in aircraft type B737-800NG, with capacity for 186 passengers, with a frequency of two flights a week.
“With the start of these operations, it is estimated that this operator would be offering the market approximately 135,780 seats in its first year of operation,” said Marte Piantini.
He added that the request for the issuance of an operating permit in favor of the foreign air operator Fast Colombia (Viva Air) was also announced.
He explained that Fast Colombia is a low-cost Colombian airline, dedicated to air transportation since 2009 under the commercial name of Fast Colombia; it will be using A320-NEO and A320-CEO aircraft, with a capacity of 188 seats and 1 A320-CLASSIC aircraft, with a capacity of 180 seats in the operations of the route between Medellin and Punta Cana.
He said that in the first year of operation, Viva Air expects to transport 50,500 passengers. The airline will operate with a frequency of 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).
Marte Piantini said that the increase of these frequencies is the result of the vision of relaunching air commercial relations in the region of the Government presided by Luis Abinader.
“We are sure that this increase in the offer of routes to and from our country will be of great benefit for tourism and commerce” said the president of the JAC.
Likewise, he added that the operations between the two countries will expand services and travel options for users.
In the same vein, he stated that, given our country’s location in the center of the Caribbean, our macroeconomic stability and the strengthening of air trade relations with Colombia, these routes will offer a considerable opportunity to increase exports, attract more foreign investment and venture into multi-destination tourism.
The members of the CAB Plenary also heard the request for the issuance of an operating permit in favor of Swoop, a Canadian ultra low-cost airline operated by WestJet Airlines to operate the Toronto-Punta Cana route.
During the month of December 2021, Swoop mobilized 989 passengers in 12 inbound and outbound operations under the charter flight modality, in B-738 aircraft.
