SANTO DOMINGO.- Regarding the suspension of passenger and cargo air operations to and from the Dominican Republic, due to the border closure, President Luis Abinader explained yesterday that the measure only applies to diplomatic personnel and those who had prepaid airline tickets.
"This measure was the same as what we had allowed, which is more control over those who can come by air," the president explained during his weekly meeting with members of the press.
He added that many Haitians with visas had booked flights to travel to other parts of the country.
The Civil Aviation Board of the Dominican Republic (JAC) issued resolution 234-2023 yesterday, Monday, ordering the resumption of operations as of that date, thereby nullifying resolution 191-2023 that contained the restriction.
The head of the JAC, José Ernesto Marte Piantini, signed the document stating that the only item on the agenda of the extraordinary session was the "review of the measure provided by Resolution 191-2023 dated September 14, 2023, issued by the Civil Aviation Board, relating to air operations of passengers and cargo to and from the Republic of Haiti.".
The document indicates that the Civil Aviation Board received instructions from President Luis Abinader and the National Security Council.
As part of efforts to normalize relations between the two countries amid the crisis caused by the construction of a canal on the Massacre River, the JAC has sent the communication to all institutions involved in the Dominican airport system, as well as to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Dominican Republic Air Force, the Ministry of Tourism, the General Directorate of Customs, the General Directorate of Migration, the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation and the Specialized Airport and Civil Aviation Security Corps.
In addition, the Airport Department, the Dominican Republic Airline Association, and the General Staff Intelligence Directorate, along with other institutions in charge of cybersecurity and communications control, have also been notified.
The suspension
Air cargo and passenger operations to and from the Dominican Republic and Haiti were suspended on Friday, September 15, after President Luis Abinader ordered the total closure of the border with Haiti.
The cancellation of air travel was made through resolution 191-2023, which instructed that it be sent for their information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Ministry of Defense, Dominican Air Force, Ministry of Tourism and General Directorate of Customs.
