APA International has signed an agreement with British West Indian Airlines (BWIA) that will permit the Dominican airline to use its aircraft. BWIA is based in Trinidad & Tobago and will resume the flights to Miami. BWIA has it own regular flights to Miami, New York, Toronto, between the Antilles, and to Europe. APA’s president, Rafael Trujillo Lovatón, explained that the problems of the company began some five months ago with the non-fulfillment of aircraft lease agreements by Fawcett, a Peruvian airline. Matters became worse with the crash of a Fawcett aircraft in Peru, shortly after the downing of an Alas Nacionales Boeing off the coast of Puerto Plata.
American Airlines has benefited from APA’s problems, an airline that had gradually gained the confidence of passengers to Miami and had captured 25% of American Airlines market. Following the stopping of APA’s flights, American Airline’s loadings on the Miami-Santo Domingo route is reported to have increased by 28%.