Antonio Isa Conde told El Siglo that the pre-qualifying period for bidders for the state airline, Dominicana Airlines, is 29 February. He says the tender will take place 30 days afterwards. He said 21 companies have shown an interest in participating. He said that the larger debts of the former Compañía Dominicana de Aviación have been negotiated, leaving way for the privatization of the state airline. The Civil Aviation Board also sweetened the privatization of the company by banning other Dominican airlines from flying to the United States for a seven year period. What has still to be resolved is the lifting of Category III, which does not permit any Dominican airline to fly to the US. (10 February 2000)
