Trinidad Ambassador Jerry Narace told the Listin Diario that Trinidadian
airline, BWIA is considering using the Dominican Republic as a hub instead of
Miami. The company is studying a direct flight to the Dominican Republic, two
times a week, as a starter. ?We want to improve our ties with Latin America
because everyone is consolidating into trade blocks and Trinidad, as one of the
strongest economies in the Caribbean, could headquarter the FTAA,? he explained.
He mentioned that one of the requirements to be the headquarters of the FTAA is
to have air connections with the Americas. ?Thus our vision of breaking barriers
and having a direct flight to Santo Domingo with ongoing connections,? Narace
explained.
The plan is for BWIA to fly direct using a Boeing 757 with capacity for 153
passengers. He said talks to this end have been held with Tourism Minister
Rafael Subervi and with the Civil Aviation Board.
Narace explained that the direct flight would not only link Trinidad & Tobago
and the DR, but would open new doors to the DR regarding flow of travelers from
Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. He explained that with the new transit visa
processing requirements on behalf of the US government, many passengers will now
need to avoid connecting in the US, and will choose alternate destinations. He
also sees Trinidad as a jumping point to Central America.
Hans Dannenberg, president of the Puerto Plata Hotel Association said that the
plans are for the flight to start flying from Las Americas International Airport
as soon as 14 October. Puerto Plata International Airport would be added shortly
after. He explained a delegation from Trinidad visited Puerto Plata last month.
BWIA serves New York, Miami, Washington in the United States; Toronto in Canada;
London and Manchester in Europe; Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, St.
Maarten, Jamaica and Cuba in the Caribbean. In addition, it flies to Caracas,
Costa Rica, Suriname and Guyana in the Caribbean.
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