The presidents of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), José Ernesto Marte Piantini and Cuba’s Institute of Civil Aeronautics of Cuba (IACC), Armando Luis Daniel López signed an agreement for the strengthening of air connectivity between the two countries. Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Cuba and Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the ICAO were present for the signing of the protocol to amend the air transport agreement between both countries.
This is an update of the agreement signed in 2005 with provisions governing the designation and authorization of air operators between the two countries. The new agreement allows for multiple designations so that all national airlines can operate air transport services for passengers, luggage and cargo from Cuba to the DR and DR to Cuba. Piantini explained that previously, the two countries only allowed the designation of two airlines per country.
The signing occurred during the 11th Meeting of Directors of North American, Central American and Caribbean Civil Aviation prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held in Varadero, Cuba from 28-30 June 2023.
Marte Piantini, president of the JAC in the Dominican Republic indicated that the amendment seeks to foster an increase in the flow of passengers, commerce, connectivity and consequently air transportation between Cuba and the DR.
Marte Piantini said the agreement aligns with the Abinader administration goal of turning the country into an international passenger and cargo hub with the best connections in the Caribbean. Updating air services agreements and negotiating of new agreements is one of the actions to achieve this goal.
Within the framework of the meeting, the aeronautical authorities also proceeded to sign a Memorandum that calls for analyzing of the capacity of air services between Cuba and the Dominican Republic, the current needs of the market and to increase the number of flights between both territories.
The countries commit to unlimited frequencies for the operation of air services in the routes contemplated and also expresses that, in the case of the José Martí International Airport of Havana, Dominican airlines may increase their frequencies to that destination.
According to the information provided by the Statistics Division of the Air Transport Department of the JAC, it is projected that by the end of this year, 36,000 passengers will be transported through the airport terminals, which would represent an increase of 32% compared to the year 2022.
JAC reports that at the present time Cuba is the seventh most active market for the Dominican Republic in terms of passenger transportation in the Caribbean. During the first five months of 2023, 11,000 passengers were transported on commercial flights to and from Cuba.
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Civil Aviation Board
4 July 2023