00:00Contour Airlines officially began its twice-weekly service between Douglas Charles Airport in Dominica and Piaco International Airport with an
00:10inaugural flight ceremony on Monday night.
00:12The flight takes about 51 minutes with services operating on Tuesdays and Fridays and can accommodate 30 passengers.
00:21The airline is also offering same-plane connections from Port of Spain to San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas
00:28in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
00:30Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakur says the new service is part of the government's push to expand
00:38TNT's air connectivity.
00:41For a region such as ours, aviation is not a luxury, it is essential.
00:46Our Caribbean islands may appear close to one another on a map, as Minister Maraj mentioned, but without reliable air
00:53transportation, those relatively short distances can become significant barriers to travel, trade, tourism and doing business across our region.
01:03That is why strengthening regional air connectivity remains an important priority for this government.
01:10Zakur says the government has approved seven air service agreements since taking office.
01:16Five of which were signed within the last 12 months.
01:20He says the country is also pursuing additional agreements with other airlines.
01:25For Dominica, the new service is expected to restore an important business connection with Trinidad and Tobago.
01:33Samuel Johnson, chief executive officer of the International Airport Development Company in Dominica,
01:39says Trinidad has long been an important commercial center for the island.
01:43Trinidad and Tobago has been the industrial and commercial center for Dominica and Eastern Caribbean.
01:50The goods and materials that are on the shelves in the supermarket, if you go, you'll see all the familiar
01:55brands, Matux, Grace and all the brands that come from Trinidad.
02:01Johnson says the shorter travel time will also make it easier for professionals and businesses to move between the two
02:07countries.
02:08He says Dominica is already looking ahead to expanding the service.
02:13Contour Airlines says its wider network could also give passengers from Trinidad and Dominica access to major international carriers through
02:22its interline agreements.
02:24The company says it has partnerships with Delta, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue and United.
02:32Fashana Pagu, TV6 News.
