Air Dominicana delayed [again]...

[JRodriguez136]

Air Dominicana will not begin its much anticipated operations until 01SEP09, [for now that is]. This is 1 month late, as the plan was originally to be 01AUG09. Fares right now are $89 each way. At this point I'd rather pay a little more to fly with JetBlue and know that I will be getting there for sure and have 6 options of nonstop, (from JFK), and various other options of connecting through BOS, MCO, FLL, or SJU...

Source: Air Dominicana website.

Any comments?

[tflea]

Yeah, they're awaiting FAA approval.
Can't seem to get their feces consolidated.
Any surprises here?

[G5ive]

Originally Posted by tflea

Can't seem to get their feces consolidated.

Funny, indeed!

On another note, so how the hell is it that the Dominican Republic does not have an airline? Like a million years after Dominicana de aviacion disappeared, they give us "Air Dominicana"?

[PICHARDO]

More like their planes need to be properly in service before they can get the show moving. The 737 400 is undergoing tests and final adjustment at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam.

The planes need to be registered under the HI lettering for the DR as well.

Here the 737 400:




There was a 737-300 that was initially to be incorporated into the fleet, but was returned to Spain as two 737-400 were selected to be incorporated along an Embraer 145.

Notice the plane is still under another code, when it comes to the DR it will enter into the HI code of the DR. Same for the second 737-400.

[G5ive]

The logo and design could have been better IMO. That logo looks like a fake airline for flight simulator or some software company logo.

[pedrochemical]

Originally Posted by JRodriguez136

At this point I'd rather pay a little more to fly with JetBlue and know that I will be getting there for

Any comments?

Yup,
getting there for sure would be worth the extra loot....

[PICHARDO]

Originally Posted by G5ive

The logo and design could have been better IMO. That logo looks like a fake airline for flight simulator or some software company logo.

You're witnessing the future of world language! More and more logos are being simplified, to express in the minimum possible allotted space and configuration the actual message behind them.

Look at McDonald's arch, UPS shield like logo and you can just as easy understand that the simpler the better for memory retention.

The design is simple and yet I bet you could identify Air Dominicana's logo from most others, without their names showing along side them!!!

That simulator like logo (as you described) proved to be retained over 90% of time during evaluations conducted. Something most other companies in the industry would love and kill to have as well...

Even the www.airdominicana.com.do pasted on the plane plays an important part in this IT age.

Try and recall Jet Blue's logo???

I find it refreshing in a saturated market with overkill logos all around...

[G5ive]

Originally Posted by PICHARDO

You're witnessing the future of world language! More and more logos are being simplified, to express in the minimum possible allotted space and configuration the actual message behind them.

Look at McDonald's arch, UPS shield like logo and you can just as easy understand that the simpler the better for memory retention.

The design is simple and yet I bet you could identify Air Dominicana's logo from most others, without their names showing along side them!!!

That simulator like logo (as you described) proved to be retained over 90% of time during evaluations conducted. Something most other companies in the industry would love and kill to have as well...

Even the www.airdominicana.com.do plays an important part in this IT age.

Try and recall Jet Blue's logo???

I find it refreshing in a saturated market with overkill logos all around...

True but even their website doesn't have fleet info, route map, nothing. Just a reservation system, well jetBlue colors a very appealing.

[PICHARDO]

The fleet is an ongoing matter, as for example the operational, maintenance and rental costs associated with the 737-300 made them costlier than the newer and bigger 737-400!!! The company needs to start with the right foot from the start.

You don't want your first maiden flight to plummet out of the sky b/c you rushed to meet a set date! I applaud their firmness to avail the line with the best aircraft available to their operational budget. Having the newly leased 737-400 undergo extensive checkups and tests is the right thing to do, as well as having the Dominican pilots train for the larger planes in preparations is also a plus. No matter how good a pilot is always best to get to know the aircraft as much as possible than later be sorry you didn't.

The site is only partially operational. A fully fledge website will be up and running as the line comes into service. You can't post pictures of a fleet you still don't have parked in the country, or place maps of routes you have no actual service to!

If I clear recall, it took Jet Blue a while before they had the website in operation, even thus they were flying already...

Air Dominicana already keeps a website months ahead of operations! Limited by functional to the basics!

Now, let's give them the time they need to their maiden flight and grand opening for service!

[Robert]

Time will tell if they make it as an airline.

As for the logo PICHARDO, I highly doubt your quote.

That simulator like logo (as you described) proved to be retained over 90% of time during evaluations conducted

I would like to see the real data on that. Are we talking 90% of the people in the office that designed the logo or 10,000 people of their targeted demographic?

Jetblue's logo is their name, easy.