After the wave of complaints among Dominican and foreign passengers due to the continuous change of lower category aircraft on Flights between Madrid and Santo Domingo by Iberiaa situation that has been echoed by this digital tourism website, the airline belonging to the group IAG has justified the changes in his teams. (Iberia and Air Europa underestimate the DR with their aircraft changes).
According to Diario Libre, Iberia indicated that the changes were limited to a few weeks for operational reasons and denied that there was an implicit policy of discrimination towards the country.
The reaction, channeled by Ruben Lopez Perez of the company’s External Communications Department, is also in response to an article recently published in the aforementioned newspaper under the signature of the journalist and businesswoman Norys Sánchez, who complained of mistreatment by that airline when selling executive cabin seats and however, use airplanes that lack the facilities of that class.
«The situation described by the operation of the route between Santo Domingo and Madrid with airliners Wamos Air “It has been a change explained for operational reasons and completely punctual, which has only lasted a few weeks,” says the Iberia spokesperson.
«Since this Monday the route is operating normally again with the usual Iberia planes. Also mention that this is not a fact that has occurred only on the route with Santo Domingo, but also on other routes to North and South America. That is why phrases like Iberia “is in clear decline” do not correspond to reality, since it suggests that this is the normality of the operation,” he assured.
«As for the equipment, Wamos Air was selected and this equipment, precisely, because the cabin configuration, both in business and tourist, is similar to the usual Iberia, with full flat seats that become beds in business, and the same space between seats in economy. “The amenities and the gastronomic service on board are from Iberia,” he said.
However, changes from team to one with less comfort have been occurring for years and with greater frequency starting last January. In addition to Wamos Air, a charter company, Iberia often uses planes from Level, a low-cost subsidiary also belonging to the British International Aviation Group that has British Airways and Vueling in its portfolio.
The space between seats is much smaller in Level than in Iberia. The cabin configuration of that low-cost airline excludes a proper business class.
“I would like to reiterate that this situation is in no way a sign of “disrespect” to the Dominican Republic, but rather a one-off event due to operational issues, and that our commitment to the Dominican Republic has always been and will continue to be very strong, and proof of this will be the growth in supply and number of frequencies that we will record in the upcoming winter season,” explains López Pérez.
