The daily press offered extensive coverage last week to what is deemed as over-zealousness of the Civil Aviation Board, following flexibility of the old days when a series of so-called Dominican airlines were authorized to operate charters to Germany in order to fill the demand for the low cost air travel that has permitted large numbers of tourists to come for cheap holidays at Dominican resorts.
The problems arose following the crash of the Alas Nacionales jet off the coast of Puerto Plata. Despite the fact that investigators freed the Dominican authorities from blame for the accident, which was attributed to a human error by the Turkish pilots, the CAB did an about turn and became very pedantic in its demands before authorizing flights. Asonahores complained that the bureaucracy was hurting tourism and turning what was supposed to be a record year for the tourist industry into a nightmare, especially in view of the economic troubles already affecting German tourists in their home country.
Local tourist hotels and tour operators protested that aircraft were not authorized to take off and tourists had to remain on the ground, and others were not transported on time due to the suspension of flights. Asonahores indicated that the flight prohibitions affected over 60,000 tourists and resulted in the loss of some US$60 million in revenues.
Speaking for Air Ambar, Reynaldo Mateo, spokesman for the airline, complained that on Fridays some red tape that impeded the flight would always be presented. “It was not a matter of safety, but rather bureaucracy which, by coincidence, always happened on a Friday afternoon when there was no one at the CAB to resolve the problem,” he complained to the press. As a result, problems multiplied with the German tour operators. Air Ambar flights were served by using AeroCancun, the Mexican airline with A310 aircraft. Mr Mateo said, “There must be transparent rules that are well defined and not just interpreted at the whim of a government officer or an institution who grant rights not conferred by law,” he said.
Press reports also mentioned the case of Taesa, indicating it was also detained for bureaucratic reasons, and that Transmeridian Airline which had requested the right to fly from Puerto Plata to New York was denied permission. Jose Monegro covering the story for the Listin Diario explained that the airline wanted to fly New York-Barahona-Puerto Plata-New York in order to supplement its traffic as it was opening up a new route. The CAB approved the first two legs, but denied the last. Monegro points out that the Puerto Plata-New York route is only covered by American Airlines.
“In aviation circles the good relations of American Airlines and the influential aviation advisor to the President, Jose Luis Abraham, son-in-law of Bienvenido Martínez Brea (Bebecito), supervisor of state construction, and brother in law of Roberto Martínez Villanueva, Minister of Finance, is well known,” writes Jose Monegro in the Listin.
He adds that “Abraham is an authorized voice in the Dirección General de Aeronautica Civil and that is the reason why many airlines that want to operate in the country have to talk with him and the director of the department, General Hector Román Torres.”