In an intriguing development, Spain's Air Europa has added summer flights between New York JFK and the Dominican Republic. Now bookable, the SkyTeam airline will use the Boeing 787-9, the only widebody on the 1,549-mile (2,493 km) route nowadays. US Department of Transportation data shows that Air Europa has operated it previously, but it will have more flights this time.

Air Europa: New York to Santo Domingo

From July 18th until September 10th, Air Europa will operate the following on Tuesdays and Sundays, with all times local. It means that JFK-Santo Domingo-JFK is served twice-weekly:

  • Madrid to JFK: UX91, 11:15-13:25
  • JFK to Santo Domingo: UX91, 15:25-19:15
  • Madrid to Santo Domingo: UX89, 15:35-18:10
  • Santo Domingo to JFK: UX89, 20:45-00:30+1

Click here for Madrid-JFK flights.

Air Europa Santo Domingo JFK
Image: GCMap.

Leaves JFK for Madrid at 02:30

The 787 that operates UX91 will arrive in the Dominican Republic at 19:15. It will then leave Santo Domingo for Madrid at 20:50, running Madrid-JFK-Santo Domingo-Madrid. (It uses a separate flight number for the final leg.) While Madrid-JFK-Santo Domingo is bookable, JFK-Santo Domingo-Madrid isn't.

Meanwhile, the 787 that operates UX89 leaves JFK bound for Spain's capital at the ungodly time of 02:30, completing Madrid-Santo Domingo-JFK-Madrid. The one-stop from the Dominican Republic isn't bookable. Note that two Air Europa aircraft will be on the ground simultaneously in Santo Domingo.

Click here for Madrid-Santo Domingo flights.

Frequency increases

This setup means that Air Europa's Madrid-JFK flights rise from the previously planned five weekly to seven weekly (but not daily). (Note that JFK-Madrid remains at five weekly.) Madrid-Santo Domingo increases from daily to nine weekly.

Air Europa / Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner / EC-MOM
Photo: Victor via Flickr.

In the week beginning July 18th, its JFK schedule is as follows, with all times local. Air Europa codeshares on the route with fellow SkyTeam member Delta, which helps to fill gaps and to have a bigger offer.

  • Madrid-JFK: UX91, Tuesdays, Sundays, 11:15-13:25 (continues to Santo Domingo)
  • Madrid-JFK: UX89, Tuesdays, Sundays, 15:35-00:30 (via Santo Domingo)
  • Madrid-JFK: UX91, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 15:35-17:45 (non-stop)
  • JFK-Madrid: UX92, Mondays, 02:30-15:45 (comes from Santo Domingo)
  • JFK-Madrid: UX96, Wednesdays, 02:30-15:45 (comes from Santo Domingo)
  • JFK-Madrid: UX92, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 22:05-11:20+1 (non-stop)

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11 daily JFK-Santo Domingo flights

Between July 18th and September 10th, when Air Europa will operate, there are up to 11 daily JFK-Santo Domingo flights. On August 15th, for example, these are all available:

  1. 06:30: JetBlue (B6209), A321
  2. 08:30: Delta (DL1917), 737-900
  3. 09:15: JetBlue (B69), A321
  4. 12:00: JetBlue (B61009), A321
  5. 13:15: Delta (DL1908), 737-900
  6. 15:25: Air Europa (UX91), 787-9
  7. 15:30: JetBlue (B6309), A321
  8. 18:30: Delta (DL1943), 737-900
  9. 21:00: JetBlue (B6409), A320
  10. 22:00: JetBlue (B62309), A320
  11. 22:59: JetBlue (B6509), A321

Click here for JFK-Santo Domingo flights.

Air Europa 787 landing
Photo: Luciano de la Rosa I Shutterstock.

As you'd expect, it is a sea of narrowbodies, with Air Europa the sole exception. It is a far cry from years gone by. Among other carriers, American used 767-300ERs until 2013, and before that, 777-200s, A300-600s, MD-11s, and DC-10s. Delta also used 767s. Then there were widebodies operated by TWA, PanAm, Tower Air...

What do you make of it all? Let us know in the comments.

Source of the route addition: Aeroroutes. All analysis and commentary by me.