September 20, 2024
300 flights canceled amid Venezuela-Dominican Republic suspension

Santo Domingo.- At least 300 flights have been canceled by six airlines affected by a suspension order from the Dominican Republic, which was imposed by the Venezuelan government. This situation has created uncertainty among hundreds of passengers who had made their reservations in advance.

The affected airlines typically use aircraft with a capacity of 100 to 130 passengers, resulting in a weekly average of 2,700 passengers who will now be left without transportation, according to Listín Diario.

The crisis in the air transport sector was triggered by the Dominican Republic, along with eight other Latin American countries, requesting an urgent meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States to issue a resolution on the election results in Venezuela.

As a result, the lack of operations by these six airlines will leave dozens of passengers stranded at Las Américas International Airport (AILA), who had reservations for flights to Venezuela.

The suspended airlines include Laser, which flew from Santo Domingo to Venezuela on Thursdays and Sundays; Sky High, with daily operations; Avior, which operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays; Turpial, which had flights on Mondays; Rutaca, with flights on Sundays and Mondays; and Venezolana, which offered services on Thursdays and Sundays.

In response, AILA’s Flight Operations Department and the affected airlines are working diligently to coordinate new itineraries and mitigate the impact on travelers.

Efforts are being made to reorganize reservations and ensure that passengers with valid tickets do not face additional inconveniences due to the suspension, according to an Aerodom executive.

Airlines are prioritizing communication with their customers to ensure that new routes and schedules accommodate their needs as closely as possible.

The main goal at this time is to minimize the inconvenience caused by the government measure and ensure a smooth transition for affected travelers.