SANTO DOMINGO.-The president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), José Ernesto Marte Piantini, announced yesterday, Monday, that the agency is not currently considering closing air traffic between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, following the disturbances in the neighboring country that spread to the area of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, causing damage to aircraft and facilities.
In a press release, Marte Piantini reported that the JAC is monitoring the situation and that, at the moment, it is not considering closing air operations.
The official indicated that they have information that armed gangs have caused damage to aircraft that were parked at the airport.
He pointed out that airlines operating regular flights from Dr. Joaquín Balaguer International Airport, located in Higüero, to the Toussaint Louverture terminal in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, should avoid making operations to that destination until this situation is normalized.
The president of the Civil Aviation Board assured that the agency continues to monitor the disturbances and unrest occurring in that country.
Flights remain cancelled
Flights canceled on Friday from the Dominican Republic to Haiti remained in the same state yesterday, Monday, due to the wave of insecurity in the neighboring country, according to Listín Diario.
“The airlines that have regular operations to that country have chosen to keep their flights suspended in view of the climate of violence and disorder that has been recorded in Port-au-Prince,” said the spokesman for Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), Luis López, to that media outlet, referring to the Dominican-registered airlines HI, Sunrise Airways and Air Century.
Both Sunrise Airways and Air Century operate regular weekly flights from Higüero International Airport, Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, in Santo Domingo, to Toussaint Louverture Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
It was also noted that, due to the same situation, owners of private jets, including businessmen who have companies and businesses in neighboring Haiti, have also been unable to fly to the neighboring country.
The details provided indicate that private planes are being kept in their respective hangars at the Dr. Joaquín Balaguer terminal as a preventive measure.
Sources: JAC and Listín Diario.
