Criticisms: Tourism Minister Justifies Expansion of Douglas Charles Airport
Following mounting criticisms, Tourism Minister Denise Charles has justified the proposal to expand the Douglas Charles Airport. She revealed that expanding the runway of the airport and other facilities will guarantee the safe landing of larger aircraft and also attract newer airlines into Dominica.
She explained that expanding the runway is one of the conditions stipulated by American Airlines to increase its flights to the country.
Charles was motivated to clear the air on the development because of mounting criticisms from the opposition. The critics claim that spending money on Douglas Charles Airport is a waste of national resources given that the government is currently constructing an international airport in Wesley. They claim larger carriers should be allowed to land at the international airport while smaller planes can land at Douglas Charles.
The tourism minister clarified that constructing an international airport does not indicate that an existing airport should be abandoned. She stated that safety of airplanes and passengers at Douglas Charles remain paramount despite a bigger airport being constructed at Wesley. She said that increased safety for bigger aircraft at the airstrip will also attract more airlines to Dominica.
So in discussions with them [American Airlines], they recommended some improvements that we could do at Douglas-Charles to make it safer for them to land – which include extending the runway and grooving of the runway. So we have decided to embark on that project to sustain the current non-stop service we have from American Airlines and also to see if we can attract other airlines to the destination.
Hon. Denise Charles, Minister of Tourism
The minister also disclosed that upgrading the existing airport in Dominica, regardless of the new one being constructed, will facilitate route development for airline partners as well as boost economic activities in Dominica.
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