Aristides Fernandez Zucco, general director of the Airport Department, says that the government is considering cutting taxes for the use of national airspace as a way of attracting more airlines and making flying to the Dominican Republic more competitive. The government wants to create the conditions to attract more airlines to encourage price competition. Fernandez spoke to journalists yesterday, Thursday 8 August after attending the Airports as Backbone to Economic development in Latin America and Caribbean Forum that is taking place in Santo Domingo. Some 25 delegations from abroad and 70 participants are attending the three-day conference at the Superior Academy of Aeronautic Sciences (ASCA). <\/p>\n
After Iberia left the Dominican market for their own restructuring problems, Air Europa, the remaining Spanish carrier from Santo Domingo stepped up fare prices. Likewise, with American Airlines no longer flying to New York, fares on Delta and JetBlue now cost much more. <\/p>\n
As reported in Hoy, Fernandez said the government is studying options to lower airfares. “We are working with Migration, Customs, private airports and others involved in commercial aviation to try to reduce taxes to attract more airlines. <\/p>\n
Zucco said that American Airlines used to export around 70,000 pounds of vegetables and perishables every day that are no longer exported, causing millions in losses to producers.<\/p>\n
Fernandez Zucco says the government wants to attract more airlines to fill the void and that they have received requests from at least eight airlines interested in entering the cargo market between the DR, the United States and Caribbean islands. Several will start flights soon, he added. Fernandez said that the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD) is preparing a workshop for 14 August to establish procedures for the export of short-term perishables. <\/p>\n
This year, American Airlines and American Eagle cancelled most of their flights to the Dominican Republic. <\/p>\n
A report by investigative journalist Minerva Isa in Hoy says that the higher fares have resulted in a 35% reduction in travel. <\/p>\n
www.diariolibre.com\/noticias\/2013\/08\/09\/i396948_productos-pierden-por-falta-transporte-aareo.html<\/p>\n
www.hoy.com.do\/el-pais\/2013\/8\/8\/493365\/Gobierno-disminuiria-los-impuestos-para-atraer-lineas-aereas<\/p>\n
www.hoy.com.do\/el-pais\/2013\/8\/8\/493352\/ReportajeBaja-competividad-exige-acciones-coordinadas-sectores-publico-y<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Aristides Fernandez Zucco, general director of the Airport Department, says that the government is considering cutting taxes for the use of national airspace as a way of attracting more airlines and making flying to the Dominican Republic more competitive. The government wants to create the conditions to attract more airlines to encourage price competition. Fernandez … <\/p>\n