The Dominican Republic, the U.S. Ink Open Skies Agreement

The Dominican Republic's Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and the U.S. Under Secretary of State, José W. Fernández, have concluded negotiations on the open skies treaty between the two countries. They announced that the official signing will take place soon in a protocol event led by President Luis Abinader at the Dominican National Palace.

The closing ceremony was held at the State Department in Washington D.C., marking the start of efforts to bring the agreement into full operation after more than 25 years of negotiations. This agreement will enable greater air connectivity between the two nations.

Minister of Tourism David Collado emphasized that this is a significant achievement for the Dominican Republic's air connectivity. It will allow national airlines to fly to any destination in the United States and vice versa, increasing the country's competitiveness and resulting in more affordable flights between the two nations.

"Today we have closed this agreement thanks to the vision and commitment of President Luis Abinader and the entire tourism cabinet. I am proud to announce that it was achieved with the support of all the country's airports," Collado explained. He added that the Dominican Republic was one of the few countries without an open skies agreement with the United States, and this signing will allow Dominicans to travel at more competitive prices, as well as increase the arrival of American tourists to the country.

Under Secretary José W. Fernández stated that "this agreement strengthens our bilateral relations and will reinforce our strong economic ties." He praised the Dominican Republic's leadership in the Caribbean and Central America, highlighting that this agreement is pro-growth, pro-competition, and pro-consumer, facilitating more trade and economic exchange between the two nations.

Fernández emphasized that the agreement will enable more tourists, student exchanges, and provide more opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers. This will boost trade and economic exchange between both countries.

Finally, David Collado thanked the support of Dominican airlines, as well as Punta Cana Airport, Cibao Airport, Aerodom, and key industry players. He highlighted the work of the negotiating team and the U.S. government representatives, who praised President Abinader's administration for achieving this agreement, promoting anti-monopoly practices, and greater sky openness for airlines.