The Dominican Republic became the eleventh country to consolidate the agreement open skies with the Government of Argentina.
The agreement, signed between the Secretary of Transportation of Argentina, Franco Mogetta, and the president of the Civil Aviation Board of the Dominican Republic, Héctor Porcella Dumas, on December 13, eliminate flight frequency restrictions, allowing airlines to decide how many flights to operate according to market demand and the time of year.
According to Reportur México, before the agreement, the connectivity air was limited to a maximum of 14 weekly flightsbut with the new policy airlines They will be able to decide the amount of frequencies who wish to fly according to the conditions of the market and the time of year, “enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and connectivity for passengers.”
He highlights that another of the benefits of the agreement is the elimination of restrictions on cargo flights“allowing their operation under the seventh freedom of the air, that is, without the obligation that they begin or end in the country of origin.”
He adds that before 2024, only the Dominican Republic and Argentina operated route Ezeiza-Punta Cana of Aerolíneas Argentinas, but after the opening, they joined Córdoba-Punta Canaand Ezeiza-Punta Cana Arajet. The Tucumán-Punta Cana and Rosario-Punta Cana routes are planned for 2025.
Dominican Republic It thus joins countries that have already adopted this policy with Argentina, among which are: Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Canada, Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico and Rwanda.
“This advance is crucial for national aviation by strengthening air connectivity and promoting competitiveness, which will result in an improvement in air services for Dominicans”President of the Civil Aviation Board
Important issuer of tourists to the DR
Argentina is an important tourist source for the Dominican Republic. In 2023, it represented the fifth destination that contributed the most tourists to the country, with 201,370, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).
It is expected that the signing of the air agreement and the opening of the commercial air market will allow “increasing flight frequencies between both countries, promoting tourism and attracting investments in the sector.”
As indicated by the Dominican Government when announcing the signing of the agreement, the president of the Civil Aviation Board asked the Argentine Government to consider eliminate the short-term or temporary visa for Dominicans to enter that countryto thereby increase the flow of tourists between both nations and increase air connectivity in the region.
“The commitment to increase the flow of passengers visiting the Dominican Republic and Argentina requires joint and coordinated reciprocity and one of them is this initiative to eliminate the short-term visa for Dominican citizens,” said Porcella.
About the policy of Heavens open
Last July 2024, the Government of Xavier Milei made its policy of ‘Heavens open‘, through a decree in which it deregulates market commercial airline of Argentina.
According to the document, the new regulation will have free access to marketincentives for fair competition, tariff deregulation and freedom of prices, protection and operational surveillance, as well as freeing the fixing of frequency and routes aerial.
“With this measure they reform measures archaic that are decades old Argentina. This is a very important step for the modernization and liberalization of space air“said the spokesman presidentialManuel Adorni, during his usual appearance at the Casa Rosada, headquarters of the Executive.
In it decreehe Executive of the ultraliberal Milei highlights that the interventions of the Administration public will be “limited” and will grant authorizations immediately, along with the frequencies requested, in Argentine territory.
Previously, this type of contracts was limited, but now the approval of the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), which is responsible for regulating and supervising the sector in Argentina.
