Leading associations linked to civil aviation in the Dominican Republic are calling on President Danilo Medina to think hard before approving suggested changes to the Civil Aviation Law 491-06. The Dominican Airlines Association, the National Pilots Association, the Dominican Air Traffic Controllers Association, the Dominican Operations Inspectors Association and the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association are all urging the President to be very cautious about the suggested changes. They said: “It is very difficult to understand why his advisors have not told him of the potential risks that modifying Article 237 of Law 491o07 represent to the Dominican air industry. It would allow any foreign airline with 100% foreign capital to operate in this country and be considered to be a Dominican airline.” In essence, they said that such a modification would defeat work aimed at creating a national airline for the Dominican Republic.
Despite not having a national airline since the 1970s, the Dominican Republic currently enjoys more air services than any Caribbean destination. Open skies policies have resulted in dozens of airlines operating flights to the country, many picking up passengers here for other routes, a practice that is less likely to occur in countries where protective measures are taken to ensure the sustainability of the national airline.