AOM, the French airline, is flying directly into Puerto Plata as of 17 December. The airline has initiated its operation with a weekly flight. The airline also makes two flights a week to Punta Cana. Gilles Maynard explained that in 1998 the airline transported 15,000 French passengers to the DR. He said more would have been transported if it had not been for Hurricane Georges, which interrupted the flow of visitors for days. AOM has 20% market share of French travelers to the DR. Air France is the leader. Minister of Tourism Felix Jim?nez said that as of August, some 60,000 French tourists had visited the DR. He said French travel is up seven times compared to 1996. He said that in 1996 there were only 10 French tour operators selling the DR, and now there are 53 French tour operators offering Dominican holidays.
