Trinidad Ambassador Jerry Narace told the Listin Diario that Trinidadian
\nairline, BWIA is considering using the Dominican Republic as a hub instead of
\nMiami. The company is studying a direct flight to the Dominican Republic, two
\ntimes a week, as a starter. ?We want to improve our ties with Latin America
\nbecause everyone is consolidating into trade blocks and Trinidad, as one of the
\nstrongest economies in the Caribbean, could headquarter the FTAA,? he explained.
\nHe mentioned that one of the requirements to be the headquarters of the FTAA is
\nto have air connections with the Americas. ?Thus our vision of breaking barriers
\nand having a direct flight to Santo Domingo with ongoing connections,? Narace
\nexplained.
\nThe plan is for BWIA to fly direct using a Boeing 757 with capacity for 153
\npassengers. He said talks to this end have been held with Tourism Minister
\nRafael Subervi and with the Civil Aviation Board.
\nNarace explained that the direct flight would not only link Trinidad & Tobago
\nand the DR, but would open new doors to the DR regarding flow of travelers from
\nCanada, Europe and the Caribbean. He explained that with the new transit visa
\nprocessing requirements on behalf of the US government, many passengers will now
\nneed to avoid connecting in the US, and will choose alternate destinations. He
\nalso sees Trinidad as a jumping point to Central America.
\nHans Dannenberg, president of the Puerto Plata Hotel Association said that the
\nplans are for the flight to start flying from Las Americas International Airport
\nas soon as 14 October. Puerto Plata International Airport would be added shortly
\nafter. He explained a delegation from Trinidad visited Puerto Plata last month.<\/p>\n
BWIA serves New York, Miami, Washington in the United States; Toronto in Canada;
\nLondon and Manchester in Europe; Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, St.
\nMaarten, Jamaica and Cuba in the Caribbean. In addition, it flies to Caracas,
\nCosta Rica, Suriname and Guyana in the Caribbean.
\nFor updates, see
\nhttp:\/\/www.bwee.com\/index2.php<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … <\/p>\n