Santo Domingo.- José Marte Piantini, President of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), has dismissed fears that the open skies agreement between the Dominican Republic and the United States will negatively impact Dominican airlines.
Piantini pointed out that the Dominican Republic already has 17 similar agreements with various countries, and Dominican aviation companies have successfully adapted and continue to compete effectively.
“We are competing effectively,” Piantini noted, highlighting the success of SkyHigh, which operates extensively in Miami and other locations, including Guyana. He expressed optimism that Arajet will soon begin flights to the United States as well.
Piantini is confident that the increased competition from North American airlines will lead to lower ticket prices. “Liberalization and increased options generally result in lower prices. The ultimate beneficiary is the user, which is the desired outcome,” he said.
Addressing concerns about potential job losses raised by Bolívar Batista, President of the National Association of Pilots (ANP), Piantini acknowledged that paradigm shifts can be challenging but emphasized the importance of the agreement for both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
He recalled that open skies agreements were previously established with Canada and Spain after lengthy negotiations and noted that the Dominican Republic has signed 17 such agreements with countries around the world, including those in the Middle East and Latin America.