Dominican Republic hosts CLAC aviation summit to strengthen regional air connectivity

Santo Domingo.- The 19th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (CLAC) opened Wednesday in Santo Domingo, bringing together civil aviation authorities from across the region to discuss air connectivity, market liberalization, and preparations for the upcoming ICAO World Air Transport Conference.

The meeting is chaired by Héctor Porcella, president of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC) and current head of CLAC, who said the gathering will help define the organization’s agenda for the next two years with a focus on expanding air travel, strengthening cooperation among member states, and improving regional connectivity.

Porcella said the Dominican Republic is promoting policies to open air markets, facilitate airline operations, expand codeshare agreements, and strengthen connections with South America, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He also noted that the country continues to post record passenger and flight numbers thanks to collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Tourism Minister David Collado described air connectivity as the foundation of the country’s tourism growth, saying the government will continue working with aviation authorities, airports, and airlines to expand international routes and reinforce the Dominican Republic’s position as the Caribbean’s leading tourism destination.

During the two-day meeting, delegates are reviewing issues including open skies agreements, aviation safety, technical cooperation, sustainability, and the modernization of civil aviation. Porcella also announced that more than eight regional air transport agreements are expected to be signed as part of the event, further strengthening aviation ties across Latin America and the Caribbean.