SANTO DOMINGO– Air Europa announced yesterday the start of its operations from Cibao International Airport in Santiago de los Caballeros to Madrid, Spain. The inaugural flight arrived at the Cibao terminal at 5:30 PM on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with 291 passengers on board and a special delegation from the airline, headed by its founder, Juan José Hidalgo.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader. The new route operates twice weekly, on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Hidalgo highlighted that this connection increases Air Europa's flight frequencies to the Dominican Republic to 14. Seven of these flights operate from Punta Cana, five from Las Américas International Airport, and the other two from Cibao International Airport. He added that the Madrid route connects to more than 40 destinations in Europe.
He explained that this new route will also encourage and facilitate travel for Cibaeños to Europe for tourism or business.
He also noted that it will create a new flow of Cibaeños traveling to the "Old World", as well as Spaniards and other European countries connecting with Santiago.
The executive highlighted that it will facilitate the transport of products originating from the Northern region and exported to Spain, and will promote the city of Santiago and the Cibao region as a tourist destination for Europeans.
Félix García, president of the Cibao Airport Administrative Council, emphasized that the opening of the route is a great step forward for Santiago and the northern region of the country in terms of connectivity with the European continent.
"Each new destination we add to our flight network is a step forward in our goal of positioning Santiago as a major international air connection hub," he emphasized.
García emphasized that the route is part of the development and modernization plans of Luis Abinader's government administration.
The travelers were greeted upon exiting the plane with typical Dominican music performed by the folkloric ballet of the Ministry of Tourism.
The event was attended by civil, police, and military authorities from the province of Santiago, as well as representatives from the main agenciesin the northern part of the country, members of the Santiago Tourism Cluster, and other executives from Cibao International Airport.
