SANTO DOMINGO.- The interim director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Héctor Porcella, declared that the agency approved the operation of three new airlines and has 11 others awaiting certification.
Porcella explained that the Government, through the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), is offering all the necessary facilities for the arrival of new airlines to the country.
Regarding commercial aviation, he pointed out that it is extremely valuable, noting that a single aircraft of the type that the new airline Arajet will operate costs between 80 and 100 million dollars.
He specified that the airline's projection is that they will begin operations this August with five aircraft by the end of this year and will incorporate a fleet of 45 aircraft over the next five years.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are talking about an investment of more than 1 billion dollars, just in airplanes, not including fuel, operational and other economic expenses,” said the director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC).
He noted that civil aviation goes hand in hand with the development of tourism, and in that respect the institution, under its current management, has offered all the necessary bureaucratic procedures to facilitate the certification of new airlines in the shortest possible time.
He indicated that one of the achievements of the aviation sector is the rapid growth in tourist arrivals to the Dominican Republic, highlighting that 735,064 visitors entered the country through its various airports last July. This has undoubtedly been a record.
He added that during his current administration, three new airlines have been approved and certified: RED AILR, SKY AIRLINES, and the latter announced its flight operations for this month of August.
Porcella highlighted that ARAJET is an ultra-low-cost airline that the Dominican Republic will have as its national flag carrier, with an impressive investment.
“With the new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, state-of-the-art technology that Arajet will use, when this competition enters the national market with these high levels of passenger traffic and their ability to attract passengers, this will undoubtedly be reflected in lower fares,” he stated.
He emphasized that this operation by new airlines will be a major challenge for large US airlines operating in the country, such as American Airlines, JeBlue, Delta, United Airlines, and Spirit, which will have to adjust their business model.
The interim director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) emphasized that airlines are business schemes and that IDAC is a regulatory institution for the services and operations of air transport companies.
“It is important to understand that IDAC acts as a regulatory and supervisory body, and our main role is to ensure the personal safety of passengers and that when they board a plane they feel confident that they will take off and arrive at their destination with the greatest reliability and safety,” he stated.
Source: Listín Diario.
