SANTO DOMINGO, CMC – The United States Department of State on Friday said its Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez and Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism David Collado signed an Open Skies Agreement at the National Palace here to advance both countries’ bilateral aviation cooperation.
The U.S. Department of State stated, “The agreement, once entered into force, will bring the civil aviation transportation relationship between the United States and the Dominican Republic to the highest modern standard.” The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, also provided remarks during the signing ceremony.
Fernandez was also joined at the ceremony by U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a Democratic representative for the 13th Congressional District in Harlem, New York, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The State Department said the Agreement includes unrestricted capacity and frequency of services for passenger and all-cargo carriers, open route rights, an open charter regime, self-handling provision, and open code-sharing opportunities.
The Agreement will enter into force following an exchange of diplomatic notes confirming that all necessary internal procedures for entry into force of the Agreement have been completed, the State Department said.
It said this Agreement with the Dominican Republic would expand “our strong economic and commercial partnership, promote people-to-people ties, and create new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers.
The State Department said, “Air carriers will be able to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, promoting tourism and commerce.” The Agreement will also commit both governments to high aviation safety and security standards.
The State Department said the new Agreement builds on a framework of U.S. Open Skies agreements with over 135 other partners that “enable U.S. air carriers to operate and expand flight networks beyond America’s borders and connect the U.S. economy to growing markets.”
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