Flight cuts in the US will affect connections with the Dominican Republic

The imminent reduction in air traffic in the United States, announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), could affect the connection with the Dominican Republic from the main airports of that country, including New York, Boston, Dallas, Miami, and Orlando, where most of the flights to the Caribbean are concentrated.

According to a report by The New York Times, the FAA plans to gradually reduce the number of commercial flights starting this Friday due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and the impact of the partial federal Government shutdown.

The reduction will begin with 4% of daily flights and will expand to 10% over the weekend, according to Department of Transportation officials.

Although the Trump administration has not released the final list, industry sources confirmed that the measures will primarily affect airports on the so-called “Core 30” list, which includes the country’s busiest airports.

These include John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) in New York; Boston Logan; Dallas-Fort Worth; Miami International; Orlando International; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood; Atlanta; Chicago O’Hare; Houston Intercontinental; Los Angeles (LAX); San Francisco (SFO) and Washington National (DCA).

The measure is worrying airlines that operate regular routes to the Dominican Republic, as the US market represents more than 60% of the country’s international air traffic, with a strong concentration on the New York-Santo Domingo, Miami-Punta Cana, and Orlando-Santiago routes, according to Diario Libre.

A sustained reduction in flights could lead to delays, cancellations, and a temporary drop in passenger arrivals, especially during the peak winter season.

The FAA has not offered an estimated date for a return to normalcy, but warned that adjustments could continue until air traffic controller service is fully operational and operational safety is guaranteed at the nation’s major airports.

Flights are currently operating normally.

Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI ( Aerodom ), the concessionaire of the International Airport of the Americas ( AILA ) and five others throughout the national territory, assured that, so far, all flights to and from the United States are scheduled as usual.

Given this situation, Aerodom recommends that passengers continue to monitor flight status and confirm their status with the airlines.