At the week’s end, following the outcome of the aviation confusion, Minister of Tourism Frank Jorge Elias, who has endeavored to attract new airlines since his appointment, announced that two airlines, Sky-Jet and Rich Air are expected to begin flying to Europe in July. Jorge Elías announced that Sky-Jet expects to begin operations in July using DC10 jets with capacity for 340 passengers. Sky Jet will bring travelers from Brussels and cities in Germany to Puerto Plata twice a week, filling the need for seats left by the charter airlines that have lost the permissions granted by the Civil Aviation Board.
U.S. company Rich Air has been authorized by the Dominican and German authorities to fly to Germany. The airline’s representatives are expected in Santo Domingo on Wednesday, 26 June for talks with the local authorities.
Rich Air will fly an L1011-500 Tristar with a capacity for 300 passengers. It expects to commence its flights on 14 July with several charters a week.
Mr Jorge Elias said he is also lobbying for the U.S., Transmeridian Airlines to operate the return Puerto Plata-New York sector. Transmeridian has been approved to fly New York-Barahona, Barahona-Puerto Plata but had been denied the right to fly back to New York by way of Puerto Plata. With the discontinuation of APA flights, only American Airlines covers the Puerto Plata-New York route.