The tender for Dominicana Airlines, the bankrupt state airline that seeks a private aviation partner, is scheduled for Wednesday, 19 September. But news reports continue to say that Aeropostal has already been chosen.
On 3 September, the Listin Diario first reported Aeropostal had been chosen. Listin Diario today adds more to the controversy, publicizing a complaint from tender participant The Kinsford Corporation alleging irregularities in the tender. Kinsford spokesman John Russo says Aeropostal airplanes do not meet requirements of the US Federal Aviation Agency and thus the company could not have qualified. Kinsford calls the tender decision “precipitated and unfair.”
The US company says that the planes Aeropostal uses on its Caribbean and Central American routes are obsolete. Russo said the merger with Aeropostal will not enable the DR to compete with American Airlines which dominates DR skies. (18 September 2001)
