SANTO DOMINGO, DR – 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 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,” said the US Department of State, stating that the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, provided remarks during the signing ceremony.
Fernandez was also joined at the ceremony by US Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Democratic for the 13th Congressional District in Harlem, New York; and representatives from the U. Department of Transportation.
The State Department said the Agreement includes unrestricted capacity and frequency of services for both 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 will expand “our strong economic and commercial partnership, promote people-to-people ties, and create new opportunities for airlines, travel companies and customers.
“Air carriers will be able to provide more affordable, convenient and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, promoting tourism and commerce,” the State Department said, adding that the Agreement will also commit both governments to high standards of aviation safety and security.
The State Department said the new Agreement builds on a framework of US Open Skies agreements with over 135 other partners that “enable US air carriers to operate and expand flight networks beyond America’s borders and connect the US economy to growing markets.”
