The governments of the Dominican Republic and Honduras have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance air operations between the two countries. This agreement aims to improve air connectivity and facilitate the launch of new routes and frequencies.
Representing the Dominican Republic, José Ernesto Marte Piantini, president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), and Gerardo Gabriel Rivera Guifarro, executive director of the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency (AHAC), emphasized the importance of strengthening air-commercial relations. They highlighted the strategic geographic locations of both nations and the favorable current conditions for expanding these ties.
Marte Piantini noted the significance of collaborating with other air transport authorities to bolster commercial aviation. He pointed out that this agreement enables operators from both the Dominican Republic and Honduras to offer direct flights, allowing airlines to operate between the two territories and beyond. This move opens new opportunities for operators from both countries.
During the signing, both officials acknowledged the benefits for Dominican and Honduran airlines operating this strategic route, which is expected to boost passenger traffic between the nations. Marte Piantini mentioned that, despite the proximity of the countries, there has been no airline providing direct flights in the last 20 years. He noted that most Hondurans traveling to the Dominican Republic currently do so on flights with stopovers.
The agreement is set to increase the availability of air services and make commercial air operations more flexible, with unlimited frequencies and capacity. It will also promote and energize Dominican-Honduran travel, encouraging airlines to connect the two destinations more directly.
Marte Piantini emphasized that establishing new air routes will stimulate economic growth by increasing passenger traffic. This, in turn, provides Caribbean States with greater opportunities for profitability, particularly in passenger and cargo air transport.
Finally, both authorities agreed on the need for better direct air connectivity between the Dominican Republic and Honduras. They plan to continue negotiations for a comprehensive air transport agreement, which is expected to further strengthen commercial ties between the two nations.
