LanDominicana announces start of regular flights between Santo Domingo and Miami for Monday, 16 June. The company had been flying two times a week between Punta Cana and Miami since March. LanDominicana uses Boeing 767-300s.
Company president, Julio Heinsen Morales said that the new airline would initially operate three flights a week on the Miami-Santo Domingo route. LanDominicana is 51% Dominican owned, and 49% owned by LanChile, the largest airline in Chile.
The operation of the Dominican affiliate of LanChile comes at a time when leading airlines of the world are contracting. LanChile is bucking the trend investing in Latin American carriers. For the first quarter of 2003, company net profits were US$21.6 million, up from US$17.1 million in profits for the same quarter last year.
The joint venture strategy seeks to surmount barriers to obtaining traffic rights in the region, taking advantage of the Dominican Republic?s strategic geographic position as center of the Americas. The move is said to be part of LanChile?s goal to become the leading airline in Latin America.
Marketing director Maria Jos? Diuana says the company expects to expand to fly to New York and Santiago de Chile.
LanDominicana offices are located on the first floor of the Edificio Heinsen, at Malec?n 353.