Dominican Republic and Canada: Whether there were direct flights from the Dominican Republic to Canada between July 2003 and September 2003 (July 2003 - Sept. 2003)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 10 May 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ43554.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Dominican Republic and Canada: Whether there were direct flights from the Dominican Republic to Canada between July 2003 and September 2003 (July 2003 - Sept. 2003), 10 May 2005, ZZZ43554.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df61cc16.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A customer service representative from Air Canada Vacations, a wholesaler, indicated that, as was the case between July and September 2003, there are direct flights between Montréal and the airports of La Romana, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana (5 May 2005). As a wholesaler, Air Canada Vacations only sells tickets for flights departing from Canada (ibid.).
An assistant in the Montréal office of the Dominican Ministry of Tourism stated that there were direct flights between Canada and the Dominican Republic between July and September 2003 (6 May 2005). The companies offering the flights were Air Canada, Air Transat and WestJet (ibid.). However, the assistant indicated that she did not know if direct flights from the Dominican Republic to Canada were possible at that time (ibid.) She also said that a Dominican citizen would have to hold a Canadian visa and buy a return ticket too (ibid.).
A 23 October 2003 press release from Transport Canada indicated that Zoom Airlines had started operating charter flights in December 2002 between Canada and the Dominican Republic.
The manager of Forecasting and Statistics of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) indicated that 147 direct flights from the Dominican Republic arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport during the period from 1 July to 30 September 2003, while 157 left the same airport for the Dominican Republic, with only 10 flights making a stop in St-Martin, in the Netherlands Antilles (9 May 2005). Identified carriers for this period include Air Canada, Jetsgo, Air Transat and SkyService, while "the cities in the Dominican Republic where these flights operated included Puerto Plata and Punta Cana" (GTAA 9 May 2005). The manager indicated that the information was obtained from the airlines that operate flights from this airport and from NavCanada, which controls the airspace (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Air Canada Vacations. 5 May 2005. Telephone interview with a customer service representative.
Canada. 23 October 2003. Transport Canada. "Transport Minister Announces Designation of Air Transat HMY Airways and Zoom Airlines Inc. To Operate Services Between Canada and Mexico."
Dominican Republic. 6 May 2005. Montréal office of the Dominican Ministry of Tourism. Telephone interview with an assistant.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority. 9 May 2005. Written communication from the manager of Forecasting and Statistics.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Le Secretaría de Estado de Relaciones Exteriores, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and ZOOM Airlines did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response. Attempts to contact Air Canada and the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil of the Dominican Republic were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo Quincennal, Secretaría de Estado de Turismo of Dominican Republic, Webdominicana.com, World News Connection.
