Taxes keep fares to DR too high
Dominicans are paying more for air travel than in other regional countries, according to an analysis by the Policy Observatory of the Fundacion Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode). The analysis compared the fares on the New York-Kingston (Jamaica) and New York-Cancun routes with New York-Santo Domingo. The trip to Jamaica is 95 km longer, but it costs US$101 more to travel to Santo Domingo, reports Diario Libre. The cost of flying from New York to Cancun is also lower compared to the New York n Santo Domingo route, even though the distances are almost the same.
Fanny Vargas, who coordinated the study, attributed the difference to the higher taxes that in the case of the New York-Santo Domingo route make up 40% of the fare. She also attributed the high fares to the lack of airline competition on the route. Vargas said that the Dominican Republic has the highest taxes on airline fares.
She said a reduction in taxes would result in more foreign travel and would benefit the Dominican Diaspora.
Dominicans are paying more for air travel than in other regional countries, according to an analysis by the Policy Observatory of the Fundacion Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode). The analysis compared the fares on the New York-Kingston (Jamaica) and New York-Cancun routes with New York-Santo Domingo. The trip to Jamaica is 95 km longer, but it costs US$101 more to travel to Santo Domingo, reports Diario Libre. The cost of flying from New York to Cancun is also lower compared to the New York n Santo Domingo route, even though the distances are almost the same.
Fanny Vargas, who coordinated the study, attributed the difference to the higher taxes that in the case of the New York-Santo Domingo route make up 40% of the fare. She also attributed the high fares to the lack of airline competition on the route. Vargas said that the Dominican Republic has the highest taxes on airline fares.
She said a reduction in taxes would result in more foreign travel and would benefit the Dominican Diaspora.