Washington.- The Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and U.S. Under Secretary of State, José W. Fernández, have finalized a historic open skies agreement aimed at enhancing air travel between the two countries. The official signing ceremony, led by President Luis Abinader, will soon take place at the Dominican National Palace.
The agreement, which has been in negotiations for over 25 years, allows airlines from both nations to operate flights to any destination within the other country. This is expected to improve air connectivity, increase competition, and result in more affordable flights. Minister Collado emphasized that this achievement will significantly boost the Dominican Republic’s air travel industry and enhance the nation’s competitiveness.
“Thanks to President Abinader’s vision and our committed team, we are proud to announce the completion of this agreement,” said Collado. “It will enable Dominicans to travel more easily to the U.S. and attract more American tourists to our country.”
Under Secretary Fernández highlighted the agreement’s benefits, noting that it will strengthen bilateral relations and economic ties between the two nations. He described the deal as being pro-growth and pro-consumer, with the potential to increase commerce, tourism, and student exchanges.
The agreement is set to undergo routine administrative procedures and will require ratification by the Dominican Congress before it can be implemented.
Editor’s notes: This is a monumental development for the Dominican Republic. For the first time, new Dominican startup airlines will be offering air service from various U.S. cities to the DR. Historically, the Dominican Republic lacked the capability to provide its own air service, relying solely on external airlines. It’s incredible that it has taken 25 years to finalize this agreement, but the wait is finally over. We anticipate that within the next 4-6 months, we’ll see flights from Boston, Newark, New York, Miami, and other Eastern Seaboard cities to the DR operated by Dominican-based air carriers. This is a significant step forward for the country’s aviation industry and overall connectivity.
