Dominican Republic and U.S. Sign Open Skies Agreement to Boost Connectivity
The Dominican Republic and the United States signed the Open Skies agreement this Friday in Santo Domingo, a pact that, after more than 25 years of negotiations, will allow for greater connectivity, with more flights and more competitive prices.
At the National Palace, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment José Fernández and Dominican Minister of Tourism David Collado signed the agreement in the presence of the Caribbean nation’s president, Luis Abinader, and members of his government, as well as representatives of the U.S. administration.
All those who spoke at the event emphasized that this is a “historic” moment and expressed their conviction that it will help strengthen already strong ties.
For Abinader, this agreement, which “makes us stronger,” represents “a fundamental step toward strengthening our international connections and the economic development of our nation” and lays the groundwork for an international aviation system based on equal opportunities, respect for free enterprise, and competition.
He also expressed his hope that the Dominican Republic, given its strategic position, could become a regional air “hub” (connection center, logistics point).
For his part, U.S. Under Secretary Fernández said the agreement will benefit citizens of both countries and noted that more than 2.5 million people of Dominican descent live in the U.S., the Dominican Republic’s top trading partner and largest investor.
The pact will strengthen trade, tourism, and “serve the interests of our peoples” by increasing travel availability and reducing costs, Fernández added. He also said this is an important moment to try to bring supply chains closer and build new ones that allow for goods produced in nearby locations, helping to better address geopolitical conflicts or potential pandemics.
He also highlighted the U.S. desire to support the Dominican Republic in the semiconductor and minerals sectors.
Meanwhile, the lead Dominican negotiator, Minister of Tourism Collado, referred to the agreement’s “pro-entrepreneurship, pro-development, pro-tourism” nature.
He noted that in 2023, 32,000 flights arrived in the Dominican Republic from the U.S., and this year, 20,000 have already arrived, with expectations to exceed 40,000 from a country that sends over 4.5 million tourists annually and is home to much of the diaspora.
The agreement, a milestone for air connectivity between the two countries, will allow Dominican airlines to fly to any destination in the U.S. and vice versa for U.S. carriers, at more competitive prices.
The United States has Open Skies agreements with around a hundred countries worldwide, while the Dominican Republic has signed similar aviation pacts with nations like Panama and Brazil. EFE
