- Thread starter NALs
- Start date
Reef Jet
They use a jet that carries 9 people.
They could develop a model in addition to the current one of using tourists to fly them to specific places in the DR from Punta Cana. The company could try reaching an agreement with either Arajet, Sky High and/or Air Century (preferably all three) to offer domestic flights to their customers. Right now Arajet started using buses to transport foreign tourists that arrive in SDQ via their airplanes but whose final destination in reality is Punta Cana. With Reef Jet, Arajet can bring the foreigners to SDQ and Reef Jet takes them on the last leg from SDQ to PUJ and back, saving them on the 2 hour or so land trip. With an agreement, the tourists should be anle to buy their Arajet and Reef Jet tickets at the same time as it would be offered as a package.
The one thing that Reef Jet has to do is fly with slightly bigger airplanes, but depending if Arajet creates enough demand for their service. They need to offer similar levels of comfort as the buses Arajet is currently using, though the fact they can get to PC much faster than a bus gives them an edge.
They are seeing if there is enough local demand to fly within the DR (not counting foreign tourists.) Good luck with that. As a general rule of thumb, most Dominicans are afraid of flying. Part of what calmns them is that airlines flying from the DR to other countries outside the Caribbean tend to use mid to large airplanes. Good luck putting most Dominicans in small airplanes. There are a few, but the keyword is few.
You can say any airplane is safer than any land vehicle, especially in the DR. Try explaining that to people. That's like trying to explain to people that there has been a decrease in crime. Might as well talk to wall since you will get just as far.
They could develop a model in addition to the current one of using tourists to fly them to specific places in the DR from Punta Cana. The company could try reaching an agreement with either Arajet, Sky High and/or Air Century (preferably all three) to offer domestic flights to their customers. Right now Arajet started using buses to transport foreign tourists that arrive in SDQ via their airplanes but whose final destination in reality is Punta Cana. With Reef Jet, Arajet can bring the foreigners to SDQ and Reef Jet takes them on the last leg from SDQ to PUJ and back, saving them on the 2 hour or so land trip. With an agreement, the tourists should be anle to buy their Arajet and Reef Jet tickets at the same time as it would be offered as a package.
The one thing that Reef Jet has to do is fly with slightly bigger airplanes, but depending if Arajet creates enough demand for their service. They need to offer similar levels of comfort as the buses Arajet is currently using, though the fact they can get to PC much faster than a bus gives them an edge.
They are seeing if there is enough local demand to fly within the DR (not counting foreign tourists.) Good luck with that. As a general rule of thumb, most Dominicans are afraid of flying. Part of what calmns them is that airlines flying from the DR to other countries outside the Caribbean tend to use mid to large airplanes. Good luck putting most Dominicans in small airplanes. There are a few, but the keyword is few.
You can say any airplane is safer than any land vehicle, especially in the DR. Try explaining that to people. That's like trying to explain to people that there has been a decrease in crime. Might as well talk to wall since you will get just as far.
The operating costs and fuel burn of a small jet compared to the piston engine prop in the video are much higher. You don't save any time on short flights either. They're going to have to charge premium prices to make that work. It sounds like a pretty dumb idea to me.
Long overdue.
A year ago I indicated that the time might be right for an intra-island airline. Some have tried and all have eventually abandoned it. Hopefully there is enough business to sustain them.
They are using Cessna 402 and 402c. They are old but reliable and would seem a perfect fit to get started. If business warrants they could purchase Cessna Caravans (slightly larger capacity) but single engine.
I certainly would have used them as I shuttled between Santiago/Santo Domingo/Punta Cana.
The prices certainly look reasonable enough...........at least for the moment. $100 one way from STI/PUJ is a great value.
Good luck to them.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2