Charter airline in Dominican Republic to start flying in '08
From Travel Weekly
06/01/2007
By Gay Nagle Myers
Air Dominicana, a charter airline in the Dominican Republic in which the Dominican government is a minority partner, was established in early May with headquarters in Santo Domingo, according to Felix Jimenez, minister of tourism.
The carrier is expected to launch 737-800 service to and from the East Coast of the U.S. from its hub in Punta Cana in April 2008. Future routes will include intra-Caribbean flights as well as service to Central America.
A second 737 will be added in June 2008, and a 767-300 in October 2008.
This may be good news for those looking to book a cruise departing out of the DR!
More choices are always good.!
Sheila, there's a huge push to enhance tourism to the Dominican Republic, the La Romana, Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavon, Punta Cana, and other areas for US tourists. The plan is to build some more resorts and promote the country. Casa de Campo has an extremely nice Resort with a Marina.
The Carnival Destiny will be calling in La Romana/Casa de Campo port and will be there for two days, (guests will overnight onboard). The reason for the ship spending two days is for tours to Santo Domingo, which is a 2 hr drive each way from the pier in La Romana. That way, you spend a day in the Capital(Santo Domingo), and another in the La Romana area. Costa will continue to call there as well as others.
Interesting about the overnighter, Ken... that's so rare in the Caribbean. I'd really like to see the cruiselines do just a little more of that. Though, I think a lot might be too much of a good thing. What do you think?
Of course, I'd be in heaven if one of the lines did an overnighter at Roatan. That way, there could be extended trips to Utilla, and the mainland, as well as some VERY interesting dive destinations that could be added.
(Of course, I have my own motives, as well... hehe)
Interesting about the overnighter, Ken... that's so rare in the Caribbean. I'd really like to see the cruiselines do just a little more of that. Though, I think a lot might be too much of a good thing. What do you think?
Of course, I'd be in heaven if one of the lines did an overnighter at Roatan. That way, there could be extended trips to Utilla, and the mainland, as well as some VERY interesting dive destinations that could be added.
(Of course, I have my own motives, as well... hehe)
In regards to "a lot might be too much of a good thing" it depends. In the case of the Dom. Rep. the distance to the Capital and the important historical signifigance of Santo Domingo is a factor. As for Roatan, your idea sounds good, but I don't think the cruise lines see it that way with Roatan, or maybe no one has put it that way to them.
Btw, the first sailing with La Romana on the Carnival Destiny's itinerary is January 6th, 2008. It's a port intensive cruise with no sea days:
San Juan P.R
St Thomas USVI
Dominica
Barbados
St Kitts
La Romana, Dom. Republic
La Romana Dom. Republic
San Juan P.R
Ken - since you keep up better than a lot of us on airline industry news...
Any recent word on the new airline?
Seems like a pretty risky business climate for startups in that particupar sector right now.
Here's a picture of one of their aircraft, a B-737-300 leased from Air Europa in April. They will lease the two -300 models, as well as two newer, New Generation(NG) B- 737-800 models, one this month and the other in September this year. A B-767-300 jet will arrive in August. Flights began on May 14th 2008.
The link below shows the destinations they will serve:
Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers
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Centrum Deck
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Cruise Places
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Dominican Republic
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Charter airline in Dominican Republic to start flying in '08
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Air Dominicana, a charter airline in the Dominican Republic in which the Dominican government is a minority partner, was established in early May with headquarters in Santo Domingo, according to Felix Jimenez, minister of tourism.
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