The Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board has authorized the launch of 13 new routes from five airlines, which will begin between November 2022 and January 2023, as well as the availability of 61 new international routes, which, so far, don’t have an airline to operate them.

New established routes

With the objective of continuing to promote the air transportation of passengers, cargo, and mail, the Dominican Republic government has allowed the launch of new routes. The carriers Condor (Germany), Neos (Italy), Swoop (Canada), Frontier (United States), and Air Century (Dominican Republic) received authorization to launch 13 new international services.

The German carrier Condor received permission to fly between Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) and La Romana International Airport (LRM). Condor already flies from Frankfurt (FRA) to Puerto Plata (POP) and Punta Cana (PUJ), totaling seven flights per week per Cirium. Condor will operate these services between November 4, 2022, and April 7, 2023.

Neos, the Italian company, will also be able to operate flights between Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) and Verona International Airport (VRN) to La Romana. The Milan-based airline already flies from Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) to La Romana once a week. NEOS will operate 21 flights on the Rome/La Romana route and 14 on the Verona/La Romana/Montego Bay route for a total of 35 roundtrip flights from November 4, 2022, to March 25, 2023.

MYAirline has a former Frontier Airlines Airbus A320
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

The Canadian low-cost carrier Swoop received authorization to operate between Hamilton International Airport (YHM) and Punta Cana. Swoop will start operations from January 11 to April 26, 2023, with a frequency of one flight per week, on Wednesdays. This airline already flies from Toronto to Punta Cana with two weekly services.

Frontier, the United States ultra-low-cost carrier, has also requested the Dominican authorities to amend its Operating Permit. The airline is looking to fly the routes Tampa-Santo Domingo and Tampa-Punta Cana. The start of these routes from Tampa International Airport (TPA) is projected for November 5, 2022. The airline will employ its Airbus A320neo fleet, with a capacity for 186 passengers.

Finally, the Dominican airline Air Century received authorization to launch seven new international routes. Six of these services will be operated from Santo Domingo International Airport (SDQ) and one from Punta Cana. The destinations of these new routes are Guatemala (GUA), Tampa (TPA), Costa Rica (the government did not specify if the route will fly to San José or Liberia, Costa Rica’s main destinations), Havana (HVA), Santiago de Cuba (SCU), and Miami (MIA). The Miami route will be operated from Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. These routes will be launched in November.

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Dominican Republic new routes
These are the routes authorized by the Dominican Republic's government in the last two years. Photo: JAC.

Are more routes coming?

Additional to these routes that will be launched this year (and January for Swoop), the Dominican Civil Aviation Board announced it has authorized 62 new international routes in the last two years. Not all of these services are active or have actual connectivity. You can see the approved routes in the image above. José Ernesto Marte Piantini, president of the Civil Aviation Board, said,

“The formula is quite simple, the greater the air connectivity, the greater the number of international passengers, and the greater the commercial exchange between countries. The successful result of the Dominican Republic's air transport policy has allowed the improvement of the management and quality of services, achieving a 92% increase in charter flights.”