According to Arecoa, Flybondi has canceled 80.5% of its flights so far in August. Nearly eight out of every ten operations. For a passenger who booked months ahead, that is a serious headache. For a destination that leans on a single airline, it is too.
My take as an industry professional: this reinforces what we keep seeing in Punta CanaPunta CanaThe main tourism hub of the Dominican Republic, on the eastern tip, famous for white-sand beaches, all-inclusive resorts and its own international airport., SamanáSamanáA north-eastern peninsula known for humpback whale watching, unspoiled beaches like Rincón and waterfalls such as El Limón. and Puerto PlataPuerto PlataA north-coast city and province, birthplace of Dominican tourism, home to the cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres, Victorian architecture and the Amber Cove cruise port.. Air connectivity cannot rest on one operator or on unsustainable fares. Low cost carriers play a role, but when one fails, the whole destination feels it.
The good news: the Dominican Republic no longer depends on one airline or one market. The arrival of more routes from Europe, South America and the Caribbean is the natural safety net. Here's hoping tour operators and MITUR keep betting on that diversification. Lean on several walking sticks, and you walk steadier.
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The daily brief
Hotels, airlines, MITUR, cruises and destinations. One sharp email a day. Free.
The brief Dominican travel professionals read every morning.