Dominican pilot criticizes Open Skies agreement with the U.S.

Santo Domingo.- Captain Francisco Díaz, a prominent Dominican pilot, has voiced his surprise and discontent with the recent Open Skies agreement signed between the Dominican Republic and the United States.

Speaking on Esto No Tiene Nombre, Díaz questioned the transparency and effectiveness of the agreement, claiming it does not represent a significant advancement for local airlines.

Díaz highlighted that the agreement is nearly identical to the draft published on the U.S. State Department’s website for Open Skies agreements, with no substantial modifications.

He pointed out that the main benefit touted by the agreement, a reduction in ticket prices, does not fully address the challenges faced by Dominican airlines. According to Díaz, the agreement’s impact may be limited to price reductions without offering substantial benefits in other crucial areas such as competition and market regulation.

Díaz and other members of the pilot community are calling for a thorough review and analysis of the agreement to ensure it truly benefits the local aviation sector. The lack of significant changes and transparency in the process has created uncertainty about the future of the Dominican airline industry.