The national airline, Dominicana de Aviacion (CDA), will be privatized next month. Three foreign firms have been "pre-qualified" in the bidding for the bankrupt carrier. CDA was closed in 1995 because it was mired in debt and had fallen under international sanction for mechanical and safety deficiencies. Competing for the assets and – more importantly – the routes of the national air line are Friedman Turbidy (American), Aserca (Venezuelan), and Lauda Air (Austrian), A forth firm, Alegro (Mexican) has been declared ineligible. In preparation for the privatization bidding, the director of the Dominican Corporation of State Enterprizes (CORDE), Eduardo Selman, will soon leave for Brussels to negotiate CDA’s pending debts with "Euro Control." Selman has previously negotiated flexible payments or obtained "considerable reductions" in CDA’s debts with U.S. aviation agencies. CDA was once a source of pride to Dominicans. In its heyday in the 1970’s it flew to Miami, New York and San Juan, to Baranquilla, the Dutch Antilles, and Milan. (13 April 2000)
