Three Canadian charter airlines get OK to fly scheduled service to Dominican Republic

Canadian Press Wednesday, November 12, 2003 MONTREAL (CP) - Charter operators Air Transat, Skyservice Airlines and Zoom Airlines have been granted rights to operate scheduled flights between Canada and the Dominican Republic, Transport Minister David Collenette announced Wednesday. Air Transat of Montreal said the deal means it will simply change its charter services into scheduled flights without adding capacity. Spokeswoman Rachel Andrews said the scheduled designation will allow Air Transat to get better slots at airports, more convenient landing times and the right to carry passengers back to Canada on tickets bought in the Dominican Republic. Scheduled carriers also benefit from cheaper ground handling fees at airports. Andrews said the scheduled service will start in time for the winter season, in mid-December. Transat, the leading Canadian charter airline with 15 aircraft, offers service between the popular winter resort and Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. There are 30 flights a week in all. Skyservice Airlines of Toronto plans scheduled flights between the Caribbean island country and Halifax, Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Ottawa-based Zoom Airlines plans scheduled service from Halifax and Ottawa. Air Transat recently had its Mexican service designated as scheduled as well. Andrews said the schedules will not change in Transat's brochures already published for the winter travel season. Collenette said in a statement the new designations "give Canadians greater choice when travelling between Canada and the Dominican Republic." The shares of Air Transat's parent company, Transat A.T. Inc., (TSX:TRZ) were up 10 cents at $9.40 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Puerto Plata, República Dominicana