SANTO DOMINGO.-With the aim of improving air connectivity, favoring the start of new routes and frequencies, the governments of the Dominican Republic and Honduras signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow boosting air operations between both countries.
The aeronautical authorities of both nations, headed by José Ernesto Marte Piantini, president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), for the Dominican Republic, and Gerardo Gabriel Rivera Guifarro, executive director of the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency (AHAC), agreed on the need to strengthen air transport relations between both States, taking advantage of the strategic geographical location and the excellent moment that the two republics are experiencing.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding comes in compliance with the Government's commitments to promote air connectivity from the national territory to new destinations, in order to increase the number of passengers entering through the country's different airports, a press release highlights.
In this regard, Marte Piantini stated that “joining forces with other authorities in the field of air transport is important for the country's commercial aviation, therefore, Honduras will be a great ally to continue strengthening national aviation.”.
He explained that the agreement makes it possible for both Costa Rican and Honduran carriers to operate direct flights, allowing airlines from both countries to fly to and from either territory and beyond. “We are now opening up new opportunities for our carriers,” he added after the signing.
José Ernesto Marte Piantini and Gerardo Gabriel Rivera Guifarro. (External source).
During the signing, both authorities acknowledged the benefits of Dominican and Honduran airlines operating this strategic route, which will encourage passenger flow between the two nations.
“In the last 20 years, there has not been an airline that has effectively connected the two countries directly, even though the countries are relatively close,” said Marte Piantini, referring to the fact that 99% of Hondurans who arrive in the Dominican Republic land via connecting flights.
He reiterated that the new instrument will increase the supply of air services and make commercial air operations more flexible, with unlimited frequencies and capacity. Furthermore, it will strengthen and revitalize Dominican-Honduran destinations by incentivizing airlines from both countries to connect the two destinations. “Promoting air connectivity to increase passenger flow will allow both countries to experience greater passenger traffic,” stated the president of the Civil Aviation Board.
At the end of the signing, Marte Piantini emphasized that the economic boost generated by the establishment of new air routes, which in turn translates into a greater flow of passengers, makes it possible for the Caribbean States to have opportunities to increase their profitability, especially in air transport, both passenger and cargo.
Marte Piantini and Rivera Guifarro were accompanied by Paola Aimée Plá Puello, secretary of the plenary, and María Luisa Hernández, coordinator of International Agreements of the JAC.
Both authorities agreed on the desirability of managing better direct air connectivity between both States, for which they agreed to jointly promote negotiations for the signing of an air transport agreement, a fact that will benefit the trade ties of both nations.
