Last week, Martin Shugrue, president of Pan American World Airways and Rafael Trujillo Lovaton, president of Apa International, announced the signing of an agreement that will enable APA International to resume its flights to the United States and Puerto Rico. The airline had discontinued its flights after terminating an agreement with Fawcett of Peru. The airline plans to resume flights to New York, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. At the start, two A300-B Airbuses will be used, but there are plans to increase the fleet to six aircraft. Passengers will be able to continue on to Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Likewise, the U.S. airline will provide technical and marketing support. The contract stipulates that the airline will begin flying again 30 days after the Department of Transportation of the United States issues the certificate of operation for the U.S. airline. Mr Shugrue said that Pan American is very pleased to be able to assist APA to restart its operations as the flag airline of the Dominican Republic. He anticipated a long and fruitful relationship.
“It is with great pleasure for us to announce this alliance and that the name of Pan Am can return, with this association, to its origins in the Caribbean,” said Rafael Trujillo.
APA had discontinued its previous service in May. The airline made a positive contribution to Dominican air transportation by charging lower rates and providing better service on board, winning the favor of many travelers while at the same time forcing American Airlines, Continental and TWA to reduce their fares on the U.S.-D.R. routes, to the benefit of the tourist industry and the ordinary traveler. Many have frequently complained that the lack of competition on the route results in Dominicans having to pay some of the highest fares per mile in the world.