SANTO DOMINGO.- The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) estimated yesterday that by the end of the year the country will receive 19 million passengers by air, representing a 30% increase compared to air traffic in 2019.
The president of the JAC, Héctor Porcella, said that by the end of this last month of the year, Dominican international airports will have registered a growth of 7% in relation to 2023, the best year in the history of civil aviation in the country, according to the official.
Porcella's statements were made within the framework of the commemoration of International Civil Aviation Day, celebrated together with representatives of ministries, aeronautical institutions and members of the sector.
"The exponential growth of civil aviation has been made possible thanks to collaborative work and strong presidential support. The Dominican Republic has very special reasons to celebrate this significant date," he stated.
Actions
He argued that the actions taken have made it possible for the country to consolidate itself as the leading aeronautical power in the Caribbean and the main tourist destination in the region.
He also highlighted the evolution of the niche within the Dominican economy, noting that more than 7,600 charter flight operations and 6,000 under the special permit modality have been managed this year, in addition to the development of the interim market and the sustainability achieved, with 44.5% of the procedures having a direct impact on national aviation.
Porcella also reported on the success in signing bilateral agreements to strengthen air connectivity, highlighting 62 instruments managed since the beginning of the Abinader government, including 18 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), 26 Air Services Agreements (ASA) and 11 meeting minutes for documentation.
The growth of international markets was another key topic, with South America being mentioned as one of the fastest growing sectors this year, showing a 22% increase, highlighting countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Curacao, while North America has remained the largest market, with more than 11.4 million passengers projected for the end of this year, according to the JAC director.
He added that in terms of the number of air operations, the Dominican Republic expects to close 2024 with more than 139,000, representing a 6% growth compared to 2023.
