“We need to find a mechanism to exert pressure to improve services, and the Community Action Board (JAC) and the Consumer Protection Agency (Pro Consumidor) are responsible for determining what kind of decision can be made in this regard.” Héctor Porcella.
SANTO DOMINGO – In an effort to curb the string of complaints from users against JetBlue, which customers claim provides poor service to Dominicans, the director of the Airport Department, Victor Pichardo, stated yesterday that the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) is working to establish new oversight mechanisms to overcome the challenges facing air transport services from the country.
“Mechanisms are being established, not only to regulate the cost of airline tickets, but in general with all services, not just with what has been registered with JetBlue,” declared Pichardo, who was present at the presentation of results offered each month by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).
He emphasized that the JAC is the competent body to handle these cases and that they are also working with the Tourism Cabinet on the issue of regulations for new airlines with Dominican capital that are being certified to begin their flight routes.
Héctor Porcella, interim president of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), referred to the complaint issued by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco.
“I stand in solidarity with my friend Alfredo Pacheco and with all Dominicans who have suffered from poor service with airlines.” However, he emphasized that the U.S. company transports approximately 65,000 passengers to the country weekly, and consequently, this influx has an economic impact on the country and the sector that depends on tourism.
“We need to find a mechanism to exert pressure to improve services, and the JAC and Pro Consumidor are responsible for establishing what type of decision can be made in this regard,” he said.
Porcella noted that JetBlue is not the only airline experiencing flight delays and cancellations. “This is a situation happening worldwide with many airlines, both American and European,” he added.
He attributed the flight delays to the fact that after the COVID-19 pandemic there was an unexpected recovery in civil aviation and that large and small airlines were not prepared to offer the service immediately; after having all those planes grounded, having to maintain them again and find pilots, flight attendants and other crew members.
