Seaborne looking to launch Puerto Rico/DR routes
Seaborne Airlines is looking to break into the Dominican Republic before year’s end.
Regional carrier Seaborne Airlines is in negotiations with Dominican Republic transportation officials to launch flights between Puerto Rico and the neighboring island nation’s La Romana and La Isabela airports, as early as December, News is my Business learned.
Once operational, the routes would mark Seaborne’s debut in the busy Caribbean destination.
The St. Croix-based airline is looking to fill the void left after American Eagle pulled out of the Caribbean, where it offered important connections between its former hub at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and the rest of the region. The Dominican Republic was one key market for the carrier that pulled the plug in April.
According to an article published in Diáspora Dominicana, Arístides Fernández-Zucco, the Dominican Republic’s Secretary of State, confirmed ongoing negotiations between its government and Seaborne, a move that would strengthen the work of the Joint Bilateral Commission between the islands.
Fernández-Zucco, who met with Seaborne President Gary Foss recently, vowed to help the airline move ahead with its plans and obtain permits from the Civil Aviation Board and the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute.
Once the first routes are set, Fernández-Zucco said authorities would work with Seaborne officials to define other flights to Santiago, Samaná, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, early in 2014.
While the Dominican official was open about the details of the negotiations, Seaborne officials were more reserved about their plans Thursday.
“Many of the most important destination/departure cities in the Caribbean are located in the Dominican Republic. Seaborne is excited about prospects for the region and to continuing discussions in line with our growth plans for the area,” said Sandra Colón, a spokeswoman for Seaborne.
To have airplanes go from San Juan to the Dominican
Republic instead of out of Aguadilla, from Rafael Hernández
Aguadilla International Airport, which is much closer and a
Free Trade Zone, shows how rigged the system is. Maybe
it’s time for a “letter” to find it’s way to the U.S. Department
of Justice and the FBI to look into possible bias and kickbacks.