Seaborne Airlines on Monday made its inaugural flight into Dominica; an event which its president described as a “dream come true.”
“We are happy to be in Dominica and to serve the Dominican public and as part of that we will continue with our special fares until April 30,” Gary D. Foss told a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday after the flight landed at the Melville Hall Airport from San Juan.
The airline replaces American Eagle which announced recently that it was pulling out of a number of Caribbean destinations in order to cut costs.
Foss said that the airline will be assisting in charitable causes in Dominica.
Among those in attendance at the ceremony were Gerry Aird of Whitchurch, which is the ground handler of Seaborne, CEO of Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA), Beniot Bardouille and Colin Piper of Discover Dominica Authority.
The aircraft is a 34-seat Saab 340B.
The airline said it is offering one way tickets for US$116.00 and US$232.00 round trip tickets to San Juan.
“Seaborn Airline review”
Flying with Seaborn Airline was the WORST experience. I had a trip scheduled from Punta Cana to San Juan at 1:45pm for a 30 minute flight. We ended up departing at 9:00pm and from another airport. We waited 12 hours because they messed up our flight and plans.
The worst was that we never get an explanation or status unless we ask for it.
1st, the airplane had no oxygen and they could not fixed there.
2nd, they flown the plane back to San Juan, with out us, to refill oxygen. They told us it will be 1 and a half hour delay. LIE!
3th, they could not refill oxygen and at 5:00pm told us that they have a plane waiting for us at another airport departing at 6:00pm. LIE!
4th, the trip to the other airport was 2 hours drive. We arrived there at 7:00pm. No one waiting for us, as promised, and no airplane either. We had to check luggage again and pass Agriculture, TSA, and carry our luggage again. People that bought souvenirs at Punta Cana Airport could not pass them on Santo Domingo Airport.
5th, No apologies at all from Seaborn Airlines.
6th, we had to wait another 2 hours there.
7th, the A/C did not worked properly in the plane. Hot air. Not enough leg room and noisy.
I do not recommend flying with this airline. My first and last time. Jet Blue is way better and provide cold water and snacks. This other little airline does not.
This airplanes have capacity for 30 something passengers. We were like 10 passengers in our flight departing from Punta Cana. There were just a few passengers on the flight departing from Santo Domingo. I do not want to think they did this on purpose, and the oxygen thing was an excuse, just to eliminate a flight and consolidate all passengers in just a flight…! They need to compensate us for this, not just with a $10 voucher for Wendy’s.
HUH?????
CAN WE HAVE A FLIGHT FROM ST.THOMAS PLEASE! THANK YOU
I might just vacation elsewhere this year..maybe St.Vincent!! Dominica is unbelievably beautiful… but who needs the hassle
What hassle tehben? You live in NY right? Take jet blue to SJU and night and the SJU to Dom. You are flying out of the perfect location
Yes ppl flying out of NY and MIA have it so easy. Jetblue has flights leaving later to accommodate Seaborne’s schedule. Some people need to do some research before making retarded comments. We searched for tickets for months and almost gave up hope, until we saw the announcement for seaborne. Now I’m bringing Americans to my lovely island because it is less hassle with seaborne. Baby steps man! For now I will take seaborne.
St. Vincent has the Liat monopoly and no international airport.
Since we a people that like to beg, like freenece, and we like blow-go-dow instead of investing on something meaningful, let us hope that Pm Skeritt asks Ralph Gonsalves of STV to please give us his old airport when he demolishes it. After all, it was that same Gonsalves that told us that we could not afford one, did not need one, while he went behind our back and invested in a $230 million one in St. Vincent. What a shame! I am so embarrassed to hold a Dominica passport because we are a bunch of dummies. I will do like our leader and apply for a foreign passport maybe from STV since they have proven to be ahead of us in their thinking. Sa- crea- sort -ki -zor- yea!
THEN GO…LEAVE…SOTE
Who will miss you or who wants you!!!
u soung like a deportee to me
SOUND*
she really does.
honey why are you so angry,it is politics as usual dont you know each man for himself.
Dapway alu wii i taking my flight straight sxm then take AA or SPIRIT straight to the us no over night
First of all i’d like to thank you guys for helping my country out. We need help the little we get is appreciated. At lease liat wont be ”cutting style” on us.
And for those talking about connections, have you guys tried jet blue??? American Airlines’ schedule is not always suited. Matter of fact, its horrible. But jetblue on the other hands is GREAT!! There are flights arriving san juan from 1am straight to 6am. So that would mean that you would be leaving places like mco, jfk and fll . late in the evening/slash early morning to get into san juan early. Besides jetblue runs SJU now, so why not give them a try. they’re awesome!!
happy to see seaborne replacing american eagle as planned. however in order for the destination to be competitive, we must build an airport capable of accommodating larger transatlantic planes and planes capable of direct/non stop flights to north and south america
I stand to be corrected, but i swear that ATR aircrafts like American Eagle’s were advertised for this airline when it was first being promoted.
U talking about the new planes liat gona get not seaborne
Youre talking about liat not seaborne
Do all you research i bought a ticket with seaborne and Jet blue has a flight that leaves JFK at 6 am and arrives sju at 9:30. That is enough time for connecting flight, same goes for Miami. Some Dominicans need to learn to be grateful.
the problem is the connection. i tried booking a flight with american eagles. form da to sanjuan is ok but you miss the connection . same for returning. they are not insync with american airlines
American airlines is not the only airline flying in and out of puerto rico from the us u have lots of options
Thank you so much Witchchurch and seaborne for understanding Dominicans. We are Blessed and the Lord will always make good things happen for Dominica and its lovely people..
Be thankful people stop the negative vibes
Half a loaf is plenty bread when u have none.I wish they had flights from ST.Thomas it would be bye bye liat.
coming soon,liat will be out of the picture,liat puts us in antigua to spend money,which makes no sense,and antigua is very dirty wont ever go their again.we have more say in liat now so soon we do not have to stop in that dry island.
Everyone has a right to an or their opinion .Not because everyone is not happy doesn’t mean they are ungrateful and it also does not mean that because you get half a loaf you are suppose to be happy and grateful . You can get half a loaf that is stale and will make you sick. so I rather stay without that half loaf. Now I am happy that Seaborne is here but I am not satisfied with one plane . Does that make me ungrateful for wanting more and better ?
Welcome to Dominica, SEABORNE AIRLINES.
I am a frequent flyer from Houston Texas and I am impressed with the direct service to DA from San Juan.
Regards,
Vincent Rolle
The high ticket prices to Dominica and the other OECS islands is the result of the high airport taxes, landing fees and airport expansion fees that is included in the price, dont forget the departure tax, I wonder if the governments have ever considered lowering those taxes to encourage inter regional travel and commerce and it may even increase international travel making airfare to the OECS comparable to airfare to Dominican Republic
That departure tax is an abomination. First you check in and then you have to go to a separate counter, where you can hardly see the person serving you, to pay departure tax. This is a retrograde step and certainly not next-level. Why can’t that tax be incorporated in the ticket price like most other countries do? Can you imagine a system like ours at JFK? Secondly, why do we discriminate against foreigners. Why do these people, whom we welcome to put money into our economy, have to pay more? Does it cost more to serve a non-national than a Dominican? The difference may be only E.C.14 but the bad feeling it leaves goes much further than that. In my book, everyone is equal and should be treated as such. We, of all people, should practise what we preach.
but people can’t spell again?
Can somebody please tell Seaborne is not in PR Dominicans leaving. That 11:45am flight from PR ain’t doing us any good and neither is this 14:10pm from Dca. We still overnighting in PR! Just wait for us to get to PR on our way down and get us to PR early on our way up! #OneDayThatWillStop
*Living.. Sorry English people, I was emotional there for a while.
about 7 new hotels now under construction in haiti right now.that to an international airport.and so is st.kitts.
dominican r to ignorant.
skerrit need to step down.
if skerrit ever attend any opening ceremony of st.vincent airport,upon completion,he would be an idiot.because that same who avise him not to build one for dominica.
put the politics aside brit do something then why dont you build the airport.
well u give a head start.one man can’t fight a war.
dont be to easy to judge remember we in the Caribbean are suppose be together when the big countries turn their back who are we going to turn too the sister islands so let us not get caught up in the devil web of deception.
skerrit only talk about int’airport during election.he always give a lying escuse about it.then after winning back, he then change his topic, by exergerating the cost of the project.to build a strong economy roads,schools,hospital,etcalone cannot build a country.we need an international airport too.I think that dominicans are just to politiclly bias.
they r comparing nevis,and the pacific islands to dominica.st.kitts and nevis,are twin island federation,st.kitt has an int’airport,that serve both islandas.and most of the pacific islands are very poor primitive islands.
we need the u.w.p. back in power.eddison james is the man.we want him back please.i am so glad to have a british passport.i would not have worry to escape from dominica.i am a proud u.k.citizen.
Well stay in Briton
is people like u why dominica is so backward.
i wish we were still living back in the 70s.we need maurice bishop.we need someone like him.
well that speaks for it self,skerrit has no plan to build an int’airport.then there are many ignorant dominicans that are saying that dominica don’t need an int’airport.dominicans are so easy to brainwash,they that st.lucia and grenada has int’airports, and cannot maintain them.that’s just an excuse from the government for not wanting to build one.dominican need to explore for themselves,and stop been fooled by the government.since they impliment night landing, has their been any increase in foreign investment?.no.where’s there the jobs?.dominicans need to study economics.
dominicans are so backward.u are trying to tell me that avoiding an int’airport is best option,because of st.lucia and grenada with their airport.that’s why dominica will never improve with these small minded dominicans.and dominica will cintinue to depopulate.antigua,barbados,and st.vincent is now laughing at us.we need more hotels,but the only option is an int’airport.not that night landing crap.investers will never come to our shores.
When Mr. Skeritt and his DLP administration became the government in 2000, Dominica and St. Vincent (STV) were probably on the same page, with DA holding a slight edge since we had plans for an international airport. 13 years later, PM. Gonsalves of STV is somewhere laughing at us after hearing this news. He must be saying, these people are really dummies for cutting ribbons to welcome a 34 seater seaborne, after he was paid by the DLP to come to Dominica and convinced blind labourers that DA does not need an international airport. Alas magwe sa!
After hearing this news, I went to see what STV had to report and what I read was very depressing.
Here is what travel weekly had to report about STV. STV is ahead of schedule to open their international airport in November 2013. The 171K sq ft of floor, will be able to accommodate Boeing 747-400s aircrafts, and is designed to handle 1.5 million pass per year, which is 5 times the amount of ET Joshua Airport. To add insult to injury, it went on to say, “This airport is a major GAME CHANGER for the region, not only for opening up STV to international travelers but also for enabling the huge diaspora who live outside the Caribbean to travel home more easily.” It went on to say that once the airport is opened, they intend to build a NEW CITY to be called, New KIngstown on the site, and the existing terminal will become part of a mall that will be built there. That’s what you call vision, insight, and forsight which we are badly in need of in DA.
Since the DLP took over in 2000, we lost our potential international airport, lost American Eagle (though not their fault, if they had vision, they would not be boasting about seaborne but 747-400s aircrafts and our educated citzens. By contrast, STV is on the verge of opening their new international airport, planning for AA, Air France, Air Canada, British Airways etc., about to build new malls and new city Who then is the loser? You guess is as good as mine.
and don’t forget, they thinking of building a five hundred million first class hospital to.
And they are telling us to be “grateful for a 34 seat seaplane” half the size of American Eagle. I am grateful but grieved. We are settling for less.
quass that’s looking like us.
i would shake r hands.
Given Dominica’s special needs, isn’t it time that we start training our own pilots with the objective of having our own airline?
For some reason the idea of have DOMINICA AIRWAYS is rejected by many, but Dominica’s salvation of air access is for us to have our own airline or we’ll continue to be on a roller coaster of all types of airlines who drop us as hot potato. When the Dominica route becomes uneconomical SEABORNE will drop us also.
If Dominica trains a crew of ten to twenty pilots, leases four air crafts and arrange to move Dominicans and visitors to and from major hobs like Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbados and Antigua, we should be able to resolve our traveling nightmare. LIAT will still be left to do its island hopping.
But no, our vision is so myopic, the first reaction I expect is it is not possible, but we are yearning to spend $600 million on an international airport that our generation will never see.
While we take pride in doubting our potential, a 17 year old boy just sold APPS to YAHOO for $30 million.
last week the manager of the port authority said that there will be a seamless flight between AA and seaborne ”if you go right now on aa.com you will find the two airlines listed” Well i tried and failed.I do have a seemless flight between the two but this is because AA had to do this as my flighy was booked since september.I booked a flight for my wife yesterday 3/31/13 with 2tickets
How many Flights per day ??????????????????
And how many pounds allowed?????
Congratulations Seaborne Airline.
you mean I can go to DA in May for 1 week for less than US$650.00 from NYC round trip without overnighting? sounds good.
Special fares? $116.00 one way, $232.00 round trip. lolololol
Im thankful for a new airline coming to DA. LIAT really need some competition in order to lower airfares.
Do not forget LIAT’s revenue is barely half of the air fare ! The rest are taxes and fees .
CC LIAT has always been SLOW in everything. That was a great opportunity for LIAT to Capitalize on the Rout and get a few new planes to work;its time for the Dominican Banks and Credit unions to start investing in some of those businesses( even as a partnership with LIAT)they would make their money back in no time and have on going business Dominica Pm at least is thinking about it his government has invested in LIAT recently…..
Amen to that! Liat should not automatically expect our loyalty. Our support goes to any airline that serves our, the Dominican citizen’s best. We do not live in a one-party state and open competition is healthy. Hats off to all who made this happen.
keep in mind that the cost of the ticket is more of our government fault than that of the airlines, check and see what percentage of the cost is taxes. you will be surprised to know that more than 40% of your ticket price is tax no imagine a 800 dollar ticket would be just about $ 500 without those taxes.
Liat is still the best. We have to still be greatful to Liat for providing us service for so many years when others packed up and left. Also, Liat connects all the islands. Who the heck wants to go to San Juan to go back down to the islands. Kudos to Liat and welcome to Seaborne. Let’s see how long she is going to last. I also agree with another comment. Reach out to Jet Blue also. We always wait until we are in a crisis to respond. God bless Dominica.
Is that an April fools Joke?
no its not
No joke my friend just bought some tickets last week actually.
no it is not a joke the flight round trip is $232.00.which we know is just a bait. I think the share holders of Liat skeritt included should try to arrange something with Jet blue as they had with B W I A which worked very well check your bags atJ F K pick them up in Dominica then the same CHECK IN IN Dominica pick up at J F K
u are so right.i wish i could know u that u can give an idea how to contact the prime minister.i need to know what’s really going on.
u r so right.
Figure it out.
Those are special fares that continue until April 30th. After that the real prices will be revealed. Its actually written in the article. smh
the actual prices r not too bad really, there’s gonna be a slight include like $40 smtng dollars….i booked some flights for the summer so i kno
We also thankful for your service in Dominica,I am a frequent flyer every year from San Juan to Dominica round trip,I hope the tickets wont be as high like American Eagle after April 30th,that is my only concern with American Eagle, but I like their service.And i hope theirs connecting flight with American Airline also other Airlines from the U S to San Juan because that will ease over night flight for we traveling to Dominica.
Still of the view that is going to be a setback For travel via San Juan Pr into Dominica..
Smaller Equipment from what Eagle had in terms of The 42 and 72 ATR’s of Eagle.
So that’s is something the Tourism Department Needs To work on..esp Dive Groups will find it Extremely Difficult coming into DA, with those Limited Seats from the Carrier .
And all the Talk about Night Landing..Neither LIAT Or Seaborne will do Night flights from San Juan Pr Due to FAA Restrictions for night operations via San Juan which is a US Port into Dominica after Sunset, unless liat does a stopover in Antigua Then onto Dominica but surely not direct.
So folks need to sit back and think long and hard
We still at the bottom of the barrel..
Talk about 90,000 Stayovers Visitors by 2015 is a Extremely hot potato for Dominica to handle, there Is the focus for a Jet Strip..
Simple because Dominica in General have a Key Hole Vision and Mentality towards anything that can Spill Over any major Growth..esp this Record Breaking Corrupt Labour Regime…
Their only success story is rapidly increasing Poverty which entrenches Dominica as the Poorest In the Eastern Caribbean!
Exhale, my friend! You sound really happy now that you have delivered all that gloom and doom.
Your statement is not correct. FAA has no restriction on night landing in Dominica. Seaborne chose their schedule, such as LIAT. Your personal interests might not match theirs, but that’s all.
It is really partisan of some people to give your submission thumbs down when you made some really salient points. In particular the concern about dive visitors. If the concerns are not brought up and attended to, how the heck does Dominicans expect them to improve.
Jump high, jump low, whilst half a loaf may be better than non one should always stive to get more loaves instead of being overly satisfied with 1/2 a loaf.
Somehow, you come across like you are so happy to find something negative to say
What do you know about true poverty? If you truly reside in the U.S., Times Sq., you should be broadminded due to your experience in a progressive country and know who is really at fault and why you think that Dominica is entrenched in poverty. Who are you blaming? Place the blame where it belongs.
You must face the true issue of poverty. Some people talk/write without thinking of the real reason why there is poverty in a country. Some will call it child poverty. Why are the children poor and who and what cause them to be poor; likewise adults? People must care for themselves and be responsible. They cannot depend solely on the government.
Have you ever considered that some causes of poverty are elementary and high school dropouts and having children out of wedlock, some of whom are children (some teenagers) having children – babies and with children (some teenagers) including those who have children with different partners? Do they really care about themselves or anyone for that matter?
Importantly, God help those who help themselves legally, in godliness.
I recognize that countries will always have poor people. However I suggest that you conduct a research on poverty in Dominica and discuss this issue with those whom you think reside in poverty and what caused them to be poor and to remain poor.
Furthermore, in this era all poor adults in Dominica receive a monthly allowance from the government. The government builds homes for some of them. I visualize that in time every poor adult will get a free home from the government. This was not the case in bygone years. Those who receive a monthly allowance ask them how do they spend it.
The poor in Dominica are much better off than the poor in bygone years. They may be better off than the poor in progressive countries.
I do not know any poor person in a progressive country, not Canada, the U.S. or Great Britain of all who receives “free housing” from the government. If they receive social assistance, they must pay a certain percentage of their income be it that they reside in government subsidized housing, paid for by taxpayers. Those same governments financially help other countries which they view as being less fortunate while their very own go poor. Many times their nationals complain and state that “charity begins at home.” Therefore, help their people first and then help the outside world.
If some people want to remain behind and be poor, then they must consider the result of their actions and their lifestyle.
There are always exceptions. I am not referring to those who graduated, who are seeking employment and are not able to obtain a job and those who were once employed, who through no fault of theirs became unemployed and are unable to obtain employment in Dominica. I view them as being ambitious people.
The students in those progressive countries who pay exorbitant tuition fees including other expenses through bank loans from those governments which they have to repay when they obtain employment are also living in poverty. The majority of them must reside on campus or close to the college/university they attend. Who helps them? Much more could be stated about that. Cease calling Dominica poor.
If any one in a progressive tells me that Dominica is poor, I will reply, what of your country. Are there not poor people in your country, a country which has four seasons which also makes it more expensive and some of whom who are sleeping on the street, in drains, abandoned homes, etc. and who beg for food and money? Give this a serious thought.
I agree with you. Here in the great USA there are schools where students have ttyl sit on the floor because there is no money to purchase or to heat the school during winter. Dominica may not be the richest country in the world but we are not the worse. Every day you hear Americans how bad things are, how Obama needs to go. Its the same all over. On another note. I wish an international airport would be built. How many of b us would be willing to pay the taxes and higher ticket prices get here. It already costs Over 1 million to grin Canefield
*run Canfield how much would it take to maintain an international jet airport. Are we ready for the cost. Or are we saying just build it and they will come. I would love a direct flight into Dominica but we need to consider the cost to the country and the airlines to know if it is feasible. Of we know we could fill at least 5 jet aircraft a day then we need one if we cannot fill one a week who is going to pay for the airport.We also have American eagle pulling out of the region to cut cost went would American airlines consider putting another route with more expensive equipment and staffing?
please this airline is just the same as eagle,you have to over night in San Juan,waist a day going to DA,waist a night going to San Juan,please that is no blessing.and their rates are going to be the same as liat very soon,I try booking a flight from san juan to da,and the ticket cost me $349.00 for a one way.from da to san juan.look out we might just have to fly on liat at list you don’t loss out on no dys of your vacation.NO OVER NIGHTING WITH LIAT .same day.
Where did you look for that ticket? Go to expedia and SJU to DOM. I paid only $338 round trip before the promotion. It’s much cheaper now!
When you plan your trip, if it is not an emergency, why not book your flight at a convenient time so that you will not have to overnight in San Juan?
If this is your feeling, then you have the ultimatum to fly with an airline which suits your budget.
please this airline is just the same as eagle,you have to over night in San Juan,waist a day going to DA,waist a night going to San Juan,please that is no blessing.and their rates are going to be the same as liat very soon,I try booking a flight from san juan to da,and the ticket cost me $349.00 for a one way.from da to san juan.look out we might just have to fly on liat at list you don’t loss out on no dys of your vacation.NO OVER NIGHTING WITH LIAT .same day.
so why not use other airports from the US? St Maarten, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua…. ?There are many flights from the US connecting in these hubs without overnighting .
DNO do you have any knowledge as to if Seaborne Airline will be seeking landing rights for Antigua down the road could you follow up please.
Really? Do your own damn homework!
We also thankful in Dominica for your service,I am a frequent flyer from San Juan to Dominica round trip every year so am very happy,I hope after April 30th the tickets wont be as high like American Airline that is my only concern with American Eagle but I like there service.
hope they have good pilots for them hills da have
Thanks Seaborne but I still cannot get a same day connection from JFK. Work on that before december.
True that, they need to do that or else it’s not gonna be a very viable option for most travelers.
Yes you can – take Jet Blue from JFK
That’s a good option but most don’t get there in time for the connecting flight.. A better idea would be if Seaborne could leave PR a bit later, say 12:45.
try jep blue
ok i will, trying to find tickets coming home soon