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{{Short description|Former airline based in the Dominican Republic}}
{{Distinguish|PAWA Dominicana}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2011}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2011}}

{{Infobox airline
{{Infobox airline
|airline = Dominicana de Aviación
| airline = Dominicana de Aviación
|logo = DominicanaAirlines-logo.JPG
| logo = DominicanaAirlines-logo.JPG
|logo_size =
| logo_size = 250
|fleet_size =
| fleet_size = 13
|destinations = 19 <small>(At time of closing)</small>
| destinations = 19 <small>(At time of closing)</small>
|IATA = DO
| IATA = DO
|ICAO = DOA
| ICAO = DOA
|callsign = DOMINICANA
| callsign = DOMINICANA
|parent =
| parent =
|founded = May 4, 1944
| founded = 4 May 1944
| commenced = 1944
|ceased = 1999 <small>(inactive since 1995)</small>
| ceased = 1999 <small>(inactive since 1995)</small>
|headquarters = [[Santo Domingo]], [[Dominican Republic]]
| headquarters = [[Santo Domingo]], [[Dominican Republic]]
|hubs = [[Las Américas International Airport]]
| num_employees = 45,000
|secondary_hubs = [[Gregorio Luperón International Airport]]
| hubs = [[Las Américas International Airport|Santo Domingo–Las Américas]]
|focus_cities =
*[[Miami International Airport|Miami]]
| secondary_hubs = [[Gregorio Luperón International Airport|Puerto Plata]]
| focus_cities = *[[Miami International Airport|Miami]]
*[[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York-JFK]]
*[[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York-JFK]]
*[[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]]
*[[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]]
|website = instagram.com/dominicanadeaviacion
}}
}}
'''Compañía Dominicana de Aviación''', usually shortened to '''Dominicana''', was an [[airline]] based in the [[Dominican Republic]] and served as the [[flag carrier]] for the country.

'''Compañía Dominicana de Aviación''', usually shortened to '''Dominicana''', was an [[airline]] from the [[Dominican Republic]], serving as [[flag carrier]] of the country.


==History==
==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2011}}
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2011}}
[[File:Douglas DC-6BF HI-92 Dominicana MIA 02.08.75 edited-4.jpg|thumb|A Dominicana [[Douglas DC-6B]] freighter of Dominicana at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1975]]
[[File:Douglas DC-6BF HI-92 Dominicana MIA 02.08.75 edited-4.jpg|thumb|A Dominicana [[Douglas DC-6B]] freighter parked at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1975]]
[[File:Dominicana McDonnell Douglas DC-9 HI-177.jpg|thumb|The only [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] Dominicana owned. This aircraft crashed [[1970 Dominicana de Aviación DC-9 crash|in 1970]], killing all 102 people on board]]


Dominicana was established in 1944 in an effort to create a national airline aiming at the large number of Dominican citizens who emigrated to the [[United States]], [[Puerto Rico]] and [[Spain]]. The initial fleet consisted of the [[Douglas C-47]] and [[Douglas DC-6|DC-6]]. During the 1950s, Dominicana launched a domestic route network to places such as [[Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic|Puerto Plata]], [[La Romana, Dominican Republic|La Romana]] and [[Santiago de los Caballeros]], acquiring [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]] and [[Aviation Traders Carvair]] airplanes. In the 1960s, Dominicana renewed its fleet with the [[Douglas DC-8]], [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] and [[Boeing 727]]. The route network was further expanded, with more destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean during the 1970s. At its height in the 1980s, Dominicana operated the [[Boeing 747]] to European destinations like Madrid, Milan, and [[Frankfurt]].
Dominicana was established in 1944 in an effort to create a national airline aiming at the large number of Dominican citizens who emigrated to the [[United States]], [[Puerto Rico]] and [[Spain]]. The initial fleet consisted of the [[Douglas C-47]] and [[Douglas DC-6|DC-6]]. During the 1950s, Dominicana launched a domestic route network to places such as [[Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic|Puerto Plata]], [[La Romana, Dominican Republic|La Romana]] and [[Santiago de los Caballeros]], acquiring [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]] and [[Aviation Traders Carvair]] airplanes. In 1960, the airline was operating international nonstop passenger service between [[Ciudad Trujillo]] (the capitol of the Dominican Republic which was later renamed [[Santo Domingo]]) and [[Miami]] with [[Douglas DC-4]] propliners and also nonstop between Ciudad Trujillo and [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] with [[Douglas DC-3]] and Curtiss C-46 prop aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/do1/do60/|title=Index of /Ttimages/Do1/Do60/}}</ref> Later during the 1960s, Dominicana renewed its fleet with the [[Douglas DC-8]], [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] and [[Boeing 727]] jetliners. The route network was further expanded, with more destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean during the 1970s. At its height in the 1980s, Dominicana operated the [[Boeing 747]] to European destinations like Madrid, Milan, and [[Frankfurt]].


At the end of the decade, the airline's economic situation worsened due to poor management, lack of innovation or cost-cutting culture, and the heavy maintenance costs of its aging fleet. More importantly, on the revenue side, government employees also sought to fly non-revenue, given the typical patronage in the Dominican Republic with many flights full of them often displacing paying passengers. Subsequently, the fleet and network were scaled back, leaving only the original routes like New York, Miami, Caracas, and San Juan. In an effort to save on maintenance costs, Dominicana began to operate [[aircraft|leased]] aircraft (mostly [[Boeing 727]]s and also [[Airbus A300]]s). The financial situation further worsened into the 1990s, which coincided with a negative customer reputation (like lost or delayed luggage as well as unreliable schedules). In 1994, now also faced with Cat1 restrictions in the US, Dominicana wet-leased a [[Boeing 737-300]] and a [[Boeing 757-200]] from [[Mexico|Mexican]] low-cost airline [[TAESA]]. Further aircraft were wet-leased from [[Express One International]], [[Atlantic Aviation]] and [[Carnival Air Lines]]. During Christmas of 1994, many Dominicana [[Visits to Friends and Relatives|VFR passengers]] were stranded at JFK, MIA, and SJU when the airline was unable to provide necessary funding to lessors for heavily-booked Christmas flights (and, overbooked for the B727 the lessors were providing, since an A300 had been expected to be wet-leased). As a consequence of the outrage, in early 1995 the government of the Dominican Republic decided to shut down the airline. While the shutdown was originally only planned as a temporary measure to get re-organized, the company never became operational again. The vice president at the time was quoted saying that "Dominicans can fly [[APA International Air|APA Internacional]]" which was another "local" airline that benefited handsomely from Dominicana's demise. While several attempts have been made to privatize the airline, no efforts came to fruition. [[American Airlines]] and later [[JetBlue]] dominated the market and the business case for a new Dominican flag carrier is relatively weak given the investment that would be required and the debts that would have to be honored in order to use the Dominicana name.<ref>[http://www.airlineupdate.com/content_public/airlines/caribbean/dominicanrepublic.htm List of airlines of the Dominican Republic at airlineupdate.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618122720/http://www.airlineupdate.com/content_public/airlines/caribbean/dominicanrepublic.htm|date=2013-06-18}}</ref>
At the end of the decade, the airline's economic situation worsened due to poor management, lack of innovation or cost-cutting culture, and the heavy maintenance costs of its aging fleet. More importantly, on the revenue side, government employees also sought to fly non-revenue, given the typical patronage in the Dominican Republic with many flights full of them often displacing paying passengers. Subsequently, the fleet and network were scaled back, leaving only the original routes like New York, Miami, Caracas, and San Juan. In an effort to save on maintenance costs, Dominicana began to operate leased aircraft (mostly [[Boeing 727]]s and also [[Airbus A300]]s). The financial situation further worsened into the 1990s, which coincided with a negative customer reputation (like lost or delayed luggage as well as unreliable schedules). In 1994, now also faced with Cat1 restrictions in the US, Dominicana wet-leased a [[Boeing 737-300]] and a [[Boeing 757-200]] from Mexican low-cost airline [[TAESA]]. Further aircraft were wet-leased from [[Capitol Air Express]]
[[Express One International]], [[Atlantic Aviation]] and [[Carnival Air Lines]]. During Christmas of 1994, many Dominicana [[Visits to Friends and Relatives|VFR passengers]] were stranded at JFK, MIA, and SJU when the airline was unable to provide necessary funding to lessors for heavily-booked Christmas flights (and, overbooked for the B727 the lessors were providing, since an A300 had been expected to be wet-leased). As a consequence of the outrage, in early 1995 the government of the Dominican Republic decided to shut down the airline. While the shutdown was originally only planned as a temporary measure to get re-organized, the company never became operational again, and was dissolved in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pascal |first=Hugo Bueno |date=14 June 2023 |title=El nacimiento, renacer y desaparición de Dominicana de Aviación (CDA) – y 9- |url=https://acento.com.do/opinion/el-nacimiento-renacer-y-desaparicion-de-dominicana-de-aviacion-cda-y-9-9208149.html |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=Acento |language=es}}</ref> The vice president at the time was quoted saying that "Dominicans can fly [[APA International Air|APA International]]" which was another "local" airline that benefited handsomely from Dominicana's demise. While several attempts have been made to privatize the airline, no efforts came to fruition. [[American Airlines]] and later [[JetBlue]] dominated the market and the business case for a new Dominican flag carrier is relatively weak given the investment that would be required and the debts that would have to be honored in order to use the Dominicana name.<ref>[http://www.airlineupdate.com/content_public/airlines/caribbean/dominicanrepublic.htm List of airlines of the Dominican Republic at airlineupdate.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618122720/http://www.airlineupdate.com/content_public/airlines/caribbean/dominicanrepublic.htm|date=2013-06-18}}</ref>


==Destinations==
==Destinations==
Line 37: Line 39:
[[File:Boeing 707-399C, Dominicana AN0202993.jpg|thumb|A Dominicana [[Boeing 707-320C]] at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1989]]
[[File:Boeing 707-399C, Dominicana AN0202993.jpg|thumb|A Dominicana [[Boeing 707-320C]] at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1989]]


*'''{{ARU}}'''
'''{{ARU}}'''
**[[Oranjestad, Aruba|Oranjestad]] ([[Queen Beatrix International Airport]])
*[[Oranjestad, Aruba|Oranjestad]] ([[Queen Beatrix International Airport]])
'''{{CAN}}'''

*[[Toronto]] ([[Toronto Pearson International Airport]])
*'''{{CAN}}'''
'''{{CUR}}'''
**[[Toronto]] ([[Toronto Pearson International Airport]])
*[[Willemstad]] ([[Curaçao International Airport]])

*'''{{CUR}}'''
'''{{DOM}}'''
**[[Willemstad]] ([[Curaçao International Airport]])
*[[Barahona, Dominican Republic|Barahona]] ([[María Montez International Airport]])
*[[Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic|Puerto Plata]] ([[Gregorio Luperón International Airport]]) '''Hub'''

*[[Santo Domingo]] ([[Las Américas International Airport]]) '''Hub'''
*'''{{DOM}}'''
**[[Barahona, Dominican Republic|Barahona]] ([[María Montez International Airport]])
*[[Santiago de los Caballeros]] ([[Cibao International Airport]])
'''{{ECU}}'''
**[[Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic|Puerto Plata]] ([[Gregorio Luperón International Airport]]) '''Hub'''
**[[Santo Domingo]] ([[Las Américas International Airport]]) '''Hub'''
*[[Quito]] ([[Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport]])
'''{{FRA}}'''
**[[Santiago de los Caballeros]] ([[Cibao International Airport]])
*[[Paris]] ([[Charles de Gaulle Airport]])

*'''{{ECU}}'''
'''{{GER}}'''
**[[Quito]] ([[Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport]])
*[[Frankfurt]] ([[Frankfurt Airport]])
'''{{HAI}}'''

*[[Port-au-Prince]] ([[Toussaint Louverture International Airport]])
*'''{{FRA}}'''
'''{{ITA}}'''
**[[Paris]] ([[Charles de Gaulle Airport]])
*[[Milán]] ([[Milan Malpensa Airport]])

*'''{{GER}}'''
'''{{PAN}}'''
**[[Frankfurt]] ([[Frankfurt Airport]])
*[[Panama City]] ([[Tocumen International Airport]])
'''{{PRI}}'''

*[[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] ([[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport]]) '''Focus city'''
*'''{{HAI}}'''
'''{{ESP}}'''
**[[Port-au-Prince]] ([[Toussaint Louverture International Airport]])
*[[Madrid]] ([[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport]])

*'''{{ITA}}'''
'''{{UK}}'''
**[[Milán]] ([[Milan Malpensa Airport]])
*[[London]] ([[Gatwick Airport]])
'''{{USA}}'''

*[[Boston]] ([[Logan International Airport]])
*'''{{PAN}}'''
**[[Panama City]] ([[Tocumen International Airport]])
*[[Miami]] ([[Miami International Airport]]) '''Focus city'''
*[[New York City]] ([[John F. Kennedy International Airport]]) '''Focus city'''

*[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] ([[Orlando International Airport]])
*'''{{PRI}}'''
'''{{VEN}}'''
**[[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] ([[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport]])
*[[Caracas]] ([[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]])

*'''{{ESP}}'''
**[[Madrid]] ([[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport]])

*'''{{UK}}'''
**[[London]] ([[Gatwick Airport]])

*'''{{USA}}'''
**[[Boston]] ([[Logan International Airport]])
**[[Miami]] ([[Miami International Airport]])
**[[New York City]] ([[John F. Kennedy International Airport]])
**[[Orlando]] ([[Orlando International Airport]])

*'''{{VEN}}'''
**[[Caracas]] ([[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]])


==Fleet==
==Fleet==
Over the years, Dominicana operated the following aircraft types:<ref>[http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=Dominicana+de+Aviacion&where=4890&luck= Amateur Dominicana de Aviacion Historic Fleet listing]</ref><ref>[http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Dominicana.htm Amateur Dominicana fleet listing (newer aircraft only) at airfleets.net]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Dominicana.html|title=Dominicana fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
Over the years, Dominicana operated the following aircraft types:<ref>[http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=Dominicana+de+Aviacion&where=4890&luck= Amateur Dominicana de Aviacion Historic Fleet listing]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Dominicana|title=Dominicana Fleet Details and History|website=Planespotters.net|access-date=August 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Dominicana.html|title=Dominicana fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>


{|class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:1em auto;"
<center>
|+ '''Dominicana de Aviación fleet'''
{|class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center"
|+ '''Dominicana fleet'''
|- bgcolor=steelblue
|- bgcolor=steelblue
!Aircraft
!Aircraft
Line 102: Line 89:
|-
|-
|[[Airbus A300B4]]
|[[Airbus A300B4]]
|3
|2
|1992
|1992
|1993
|1993
Line 117: Line 104:
|1971
|1971
|1972
|1972
|Leased from [[Pan Am]]
|rowspan=2|Leased from [[Pan Am]]
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Boeing 707-320C]]
|rowspan=2|[[Boeing 707-320C]]
Line 123: Line 110:
|1972
|1972
|1972
|1972
|Leased from [[Pan Am]]
|-
|-
|1
|1
Line 129: Line 115:
|1994
|1994
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 720B]]
|1
|1980
|1981
|Leased from [[MCA Leasing]]
|-
|-
|[[Boeing 727-100]]
|[[Boeing 727-100]]
Line 176: Line 156:
|1947
|1947
|1974
|1974
|Version of the [[Douglas DC-3]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Douglas C-54 Skymaster]]
|[[Douglas C-54 Skymaster]]
Line 217: Line 197:
|1
|1
|1969
|1969
|Written off in [[Dominicana DC-9 air disaster|an accident]]
|[[Dominicana DC-9 air disaster|Crashed into the sea]]
|-
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10]]
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10]]
Line 235: Line 215:
|1984
|1984
|1984
|1984
|Leased from [[Jet 24]]
|
|-
|-
|}
|}
</center>


===Livery===
===Livery===
The most common Dominicana livery consisted of a metallic silver fuselage, with red and blue [[cheatline]]s going all the way from the cockpit to the tail painting,<ref>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Boeing_727-173C%2C_Dominicana_de_Aviacion_JP5920044.jpg</ref> representing the colors in the Dominican flag. The ''Dominicana'' titles were written in black letters above the passenger windows.
The most common Dominicana livery consisted of a metallic silver fuselage, with red and blue [[cheatline]]s going all the way from the cockpit to the tail painting,<ref>{{cite web|title=HI-312 {{pipe}} Boeing 727-173 {{pipe}} Dominicana de Aviación {{pipe}} Jon Proctor {{pipe}} JetPhotos|author=Jon Proctor|url=https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/5920044|website=jetphotos.com|orig-date=February 9, 1985|date=February 15, 2007|access-date=July 8, 2024}}</ref> representing the colors in the Dominican flag. The ''Dominicana'' titles were written in black letters above the passenger windows.


==Accidents and incidents==
==Accidents and incidents==
*On 11 January 1948, a Dominicana [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] (registered HI-6) crashed into a mountain near [[Yamasá]] in bad weather conditions, killing all 30 passengers and two crew members on board, amongst them the [[baseball]] team of [[B.B.C Santiago]]. The aircraft had been on a scheduled flight from [[Barahona (city)|Barahona]] to [[Santiago de los Caballeros]].<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480111-0 Dominicana 1948 crash at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>
*On 11 January 1948, a Dominicana [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] (registered HI-6) crashed into a mountain near [[Yamasá]] in bad weather conditions, killing all 30 passengers and two crew members on board, amongst them the [[baseball]] team of [[B.B.C Santiago]]. The aircraft had been on a scheduled flight from [[Barahona (city)|Barahona]] to [[Santiago de los Caballeros]].<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480111-0 Dominicana 1948 crash at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>

*On 17 July 1958 at 10:16 [[Universal Coordinated Time|UTC]], a [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]] aircraft (registered HI-16) operating '''Dominicana Flight 402''' from Ciudad Trujillo (today's [[Santo Domingo]]) to [[Miami]] crashed shortly after take-off due to an engine problem, killing the two pilots on board.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19580717-0 1958 Dominicana crash at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>
*On 17 July 1958 at 10:16 [[Universal Coordinated Time|UTC]], a [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]] aircraft (registered HI-16) operating '''Dominicana Flight 402''' from Ciudad Trujillo (today's [[Santo Domingo]]) to [[Miami]] crashed shortly after take-off due to an engine problem, killing the two pilots on board.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19580717-0 1958 Dominicana crash at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>
*On 23 June 1969 at 15:42 local time, a Dominicana [[Aviation Traders Carvair]] aircraft (registered HI-168), which was operating '''Flight 401''' from Miami to Santo Domingo, crashed shortly after take-off from [[Miami International Airport]], killing all four persons on board, as well as six people on the ground. The aircraft had suffered an engine failure during take-off run, on which the pilots were not able to react accordingly.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690623-0 Dominicana Flight 401 at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref><ref>[http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR70-17.pdf Flight 401 Official NTSB Accident Report]</ref>

*On 23 June 1969 at 15:42 local time, a Dominicana [[Aviation Traders Carvair]] aircraft (registered HI-168), which was operating '''Flight 401''' from Miami to Santo Domingo, crashed shortly after take-off from [[Miami International Airport]], killing all four persons on board, as well as six people on the ground. The aircraft had suffered an engine failure during take-off run, on which the pilots were not able to react accordingly.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690623-0 Dominicana Flight 402 at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref><ref>[http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR70-17.pdf Flight 401 Official NTSB Accident Report]</ref>

*On 15 February 1970 at approximately 18:30 local time, a Dominicana [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] (registered HI-177) '''[[Dominicana DC-9 air disaster|crashed into the sea]]''' some 3 kilometres off [[Santo Domingo]], killing all 97 passengers and 5 crew members on board, making it the deadliest accident in the history of the Dominican Republic until the crash of [[Birgenair Flight 301]] in 1996. The aircraft had just departed [[Las Américas International Airport]] for a scheduled flight to [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], when it suffered a dual engine failure.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19700215-0 Dominicana 1970 crash at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>
*On 15 February 1970 at approximately 18:30 local time, a Dominicana [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] (registered HI-177) '''[[Dominicana DC-9 air disaster|crashed into the sea]]''' some 3 kilometres off [[Santo Domingo]], killing all 97 passengers and 5 crew members on board, making it the deadliest accident in the history of the Dominican Republic until the crash of [[Birgenair Flight 301]] in 1996. The aircraft had just departed [[Las Américas International Airport]] for a scheduled flight to [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], when it suffered a dual engine failure.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19700215-0 Dominicana 1970 crash at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>
*On 5 September 1993, a Dominicana [[Boeing 727-200]] (registered HI-617CA) was destroyed in a fire at Las Américas Airport. The then 20 years old aircraft had been operating a scheduled flight from San Juan to Santo Domingo carrying 98 passengers and 7 crew members, when the cabin filled with smoke during disembarkation, which was caused by a fire due to electrical overheating. All people involved managed to leave the aircraft before it was completely engulfed by the flames.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19930905-0 Dominicana 1993 incident at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>


==See also==
*On 5 September 1993, a Dominicana [[Boeing 727-200]] (registered HI-617CA) was destroyed in a fire at Las Américas Airport. The then 20 years old aircraft had been operating a scheduled flight from San Juan to Santo Domingo carrying 98 passengers and 7 crew members, when the cabin filled with smoke during disembarkation, which was caused by a fire due to electrical overheating. All people involved managed to leave the aircraft before it was completely engulfed by the flames.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19930905-0 Dominicana 1993 incident at the Aviation Safety Network]</ref>
*[[List of defunct airlines of the Dominican Republic]]


==References==
==References==
Line 267: Line 245:
[[Category:1944 establishments in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:1944 establishments in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Brands of the Dominican Republic]]

Latest revision as of 14:29, 16 December 2024

Not to be confused with PAWA Dominicana.
Dominicana de Aviación
IATA ICAO Call sign
DO DOA DOMINICANA
Founded4 May 1944
Commenced operations1944
Ceased operations1999 (inactive since 1995)
HubsSanto Domingo–Las Américas
Secondary hubsPuerto Plata
Focus cities
Fleet size13
Destinations19 (At time of closing)
HeadquartersSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
Employees45,000

Compañía Dominicana de Aviación, usually shortened to Dominicana, was an airline based in the Dominican Republic and served as the flag carrier for the country.

History

[edit]
A Dominicana Douglas DC-6B freighter parked at Miami International Airport in 1975
The only McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Dominicana owned. This aircraft crashed in 1970, killing all 102 people on board

Dominicana was established in 1944 in an effort to create a national airline aiming at the large number of Dominican citizens who emigrated to the United States, Puerto Rico and Spain. The initial fleet consisted of the Douglas C-47 and DC-6. During the 1950s, Dominicana launched a domestic route network to places such as Puerto Plata, La Romana and Santiago de los Caballeros, acquiring Curtiss C-46 Commando and Aviation Traders Carvair airplanes. In 1960, the airline was operating international nonstop passenger service between Ciudad Trujillo (the capitol of the Dominican Republic which was later renamed Santo Domingo) and Miami with Douglas DC-4 propliners and also nonstop between Ciudad Trujillo and San Juan, Puerto Rico with Douglas DC-3 and Curtiss C-46 prop aircraft.[1] Later during the 1960s, Dominicana renewed its fleet with the Douglas DC-8, McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 727 jetliners. The route network was further expanded, with more destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean during the 1970s. At its height in the 1980s, Dominicana operated the Boeing 747 to European destinations like Madrid, Milan, and Frankfurt.

At the end of the decade, the airline's economic situation worsened due to poor management, lack of innovation or cost-cutting culture, and the heavy maintenance costs of its aging fleet. More importantly, on the revenue side, government employees also sought to fly non-revenue, given the typical patronage in the Dominican Republic with many flights full of them often displacing paying passengers. Subsequently, the fleet and network were scaled back, leaving only the original routes like New York, Miami, Caracas, and San Juan. In an effort to save on maintenance costs, Dominicana began to operate leased aircraft (mostly Boeing 727s and also Airbus A300s). The financial situation further worsened into the 1990s, which coincided with a negative customer reputation (like lost or delayed luggage as well as unreliable schedules). In 1994, now also faced with Cat1 restrictions in the US, Dominicana wet-leased a Boeing 737-300 and a Boeing 757-200 from Mexican low-cost airline TAESA. Further aircraft were wet-leased from Capitol Air Express Express One International, Atlantic Aviation and Carnival Air Lines. During Christmas of 1994, many Dominicana VFR passengers were stranded at JFK, MIA, and SJU when the airline was unable to provide necessary funding to lessors for heavily-booked Christmas flights (and, overbooked for the B727 the lessors were providing, since an A300 had been expected to be wet-leased). As a consequence of the outrage, in early 1995 the government of the Dominican Republic decided to shut down the airline. While the shutdown was originally only planned as a temporary measure to get re-organized, the company never became operational again, and was dissolved in 1999.[2] The vice president at the time was quoted saying that "Dominicans can fly APA International" which was another "local" airline that benefited handsomely from Dominicana's demise. While several attempts have been made to privatize the airline, no efforts came to fruition. American Airlines and later JetBlue dominated the market and the business case for a new Dominican flag carrier is relatively weak given the investment that would be required and the debts that would have to be honored in order to use the Dominicana name.[3]

Destinations

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A Dominicana Boeing 727-100 taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1985
A Dominicana Boeing 707-320C at Miami International Airport in 1989

 Aruba

 Canada

 Curaçao

 Dominican Republic

 Ecuador

 France

 Germany

 Haiti

 Italy

 Panama

 Puerto Rico

 Spain

 United Kingdom

 United States

 Venezuela

Fleet

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Over the years, Dominicana operated the following aircraft types:[4][5][6]

Dominicana de Aviación fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A300B4 2 1992 1993 Leased from Conair of Scandinavia
ATL-98A 2 1969 1978 One written off as Flight 401
Boeing 707-320 1 1971 1972 Leased from Pan Am
Boeing 707-320C 1 1972 1972
1 1984 1994
Boeing 727-100 5 1972 1994
Boeing 727-200 9 1975 1999
Boeing 737-400 1 1994 Un­known Wet leased from TAESA
Boeing 747-100 1 1985 1987
Boeing 757-200 1 1994 Un­known Wet leased from TAESA
Curtiss C-46 Commando 8 1948 1969
Douglas C-47 Skytrain 4 1947 1974 Version of the Douglas DC-3
Douglas C-54 Skymaster 2 1958 1977
Douglas DC-4 1 1973 1975
Douglas DC-6B 4 1962 1994
Douglas DC-8-43 2 1978 1981
Lockheed L-188C Electra 1 1970 1971 Leased from American Flyers Airline
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 1 1968 1970 Leased from McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 1 1969 Crashed into the sea
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 1 1984 1985 Leased from Arrow Air
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 1 1995 1996 Leased from TAESA
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 1 1984 1984 Leased from Jet 24

Livery

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The most common Dominicana livery consisted of a metallic silver fuselage, with red and blue cheatlines going all the way from the cockpit to the tail painting,[7] representing the colors in the Dominican flag. The Dominicana titles were written in black letters above the passenger windows.

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 11 January 1948, a Dominicana Douglas C-47 Skytrain (registered HI-6) crashed into a mountain near Yamasá in bad weather conditions, killing all 30 passengers and two crew members on board, amongst them the baseball team of B.B.C Santiago. The aircraft had been on a scheduled flight from Barahona to Santiago de los Caballeros.[8]
  • On 17 July 1958 at 10:16 UTC, a Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft (registered HI-16) operating Dominicana Flight 402 from Ciudad Trujillo (today's Santo Domingo) to Miami crashed shortly after take-off due to an engine problem, killing the two pilots on board.[9]
  • On 23 June 1969 at 15:42 local time, a Dominicana Aviation Traders Carvair aircraft (registered HI-168), which was operating Flight 401 from Miami to Santo Domingo, crashed shortly after take-off from Miami International Airport, killing all four persons on board, as well as six people on the ground. The aircraft had suffered an engine failure during take-off run, on which the pilots were not able to react accordingly.[10][11]
  • On 15 February 1970 at approximately 18:30 local time, a Dominicana McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (registered HI-177) crashed into the sea some 3 kilometres off Santo Domingo, killing all 97 passengers and 5 crew members on board, making it the deadliest accident in the history of the Dominican Republic until the crash of Birgenair Flight 301 in 1996. The aircraft had just departed Las Américas International Airport for a scheduled flight to San Juan, when it suffered a dual engine failure.[12]
  • On 5 September 1993, a Dominicana Boeing 727-200 (registered HI-617CA) was destroyed in a fire at Las Américas Airport. The then 20 years old aircraft had been operating a scheduled flight from San Juan to Santo Domingo carrying 98 passengers and 7 crew members, when the cabin filled with smoke during disembarkation, which was caused by a fire due to electrical overheating. All people involved managed to leave the aircraft before it was completely engulfed by the flames.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Index of /Ttimages/Do1/Do60/".
  2. ^ Pascal, Hugo Bueno (14 June 2023). "El nacimiento, renacer y desaparición de Dominicana de Aviación (CDA) – y 9-". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  3. ^ List of airlines of the Dominican Republic at airlineupdate.com Archived 2013-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Amateur Dominicana de Aviacion Historic Fleet listing
  5. ^ "Dominicana Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Dominicana fleet". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  7. ^ Jon Proctor (February 15, 2007) [February 9, 1985]. "HI-312 | Boeing 727-173 | Dominicana de Aviación | Jon Proctor | JetPhotos". jetphotos.com. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Dominicana 1948 crash at the Aviation Safety Network
  9. ^ 1958 Dominicana crash at the Aviation Safety Network
  10. ^ Dominicana Flight 401 at the Aviation Safety Network
  11. ^ Flight 401 Official NTSB Accident Report
  12. ^ Dominicana 1970 crash at the Aviation Safety Network
  13. ^ Dominicana 1993 incident at the Aviation Safety Network
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