Air Turks and Caicos, the country’s only national airline, will start daily flights from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to the popular Caribbean hub of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 15.

The ATC flights would all originate from Providenciales, offering connections between the TCI, Puerto Rico and points beyond in the Eastern Caribbean, subject to regulatory approvals.

ATC Chairman Lyndon R. Gardiner says this new route is an important step in realizing his dream to unite the Caribbean Islands through more convenient and expanded connections that promoted trade and tourism.

In late 2010, Jamaican authorities put a stop to Gardiner’s plans to offer expansion through Jamaica to other Caribbean nations with the addition of flights through Kingston.

Gardiner said he wishes that the separate Caribbean nations would focus more closely on cooperative marketing for the benefit of the entire region.

The announcement of the new route was made during a reception Jan. 17 hosted for the airline by the Dominican Tourism Authorities in Puerto Plata, attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism César José de los Santos, the Chamber of Commerce as well as representatives from local hotel and tourism organizations.

The airline was represented by Gardiner, CEO Darrell Richardson, VP, Business Development Deborah Aharon and VP of Flight Standards Capt. Harold Williams.

Deputy Minister de los Santos thanked the airline executives for choosing Puerto Plata as their new gateway to San Juan and assured them that the initiative would have the full support of the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia and his Ministry.

President of the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce Amaurys Plá also welcomed the company and noted that with the opening of the new route would also come new business opportunities for trading of goods and services as well as tourism, and reiterated his organization’s support.

Max Iglesias, president of the Northern Hotel Association, thanked the executives of ATC and said that he was pleased that the route would open up many potential connections with other Caribbean islands.

Roberto Casoni, president of the Hotel Association for the popular Playa Dorada region, said that the daily flights would offer more flexibility and convenience that he expected would result in longer stays by visitors.

Gardiner surprised and delighted the crowd by addressing them in their native Spanish, explaining the history of the airline, which started with a single piston aircraft in 1992 as InterIsland Airways. After changing the name to Air Turks and Caicos to better reflect this country’s identity and national pride, the airline continued to grow and now has a fleet of 15 mainly turbine aircraft, ranging in size from 9 to 30 passengers.

He also spoke about the long history of friendship and trade between the two countries, recalling the days of old when folks often sailed from North Caicos to the Dominican Republic in fishing boats to trade dried conch for produce and rum.

###
by fp Staff
fp Turks & Caicos