Universal Aviation has announced that it is expanding its footprint in the Dominican Republic.

A newly-signed commercial agreement with Assist Air, a member of the Caribbean Holding Group, expands Universal Aviation Dominican Republic's ground handling support services for corporate and private aviation operators to six international airports in the Dominican Republic. The additional airports now covered include Punta Cana (MDPC), Samaná (MDCY), Santo Domingo (MDSD), Santiago (MDST), Puerto Plata (MDPP) and Barahona (MDBH). This is in addition to La Romana (MDLR) and Joaquin Balaguer (MDJB) where Universal Aviation Dominican Republic has been operating since 2016.

Caribbean Holding Group is the holding company of Caribbean Catering Services, and Aviam Ltd, the largest provider of under-the-wing services in the Dominican Republic.

“We are thrilled to work with Assist Air and Aviam to now be able to provide the highest levels of standards and service for business aviation operators at even more locations within the Dominican Republic,” says chairman Greg Evans.

Universal Aviation Dominican Republic, which opened in 2016, will also be opening a new operations control centre at Santo Domingo airport.

“Through our venture with Assist Air, we will create a completely new experience on the ground at arrival, but the enhancement in our customers' experience will begin before that thanks to our new operations control centre. The new ops centre, which will be opening this December, will lower operators' risk and stress by coordinating all their needs in the Dominican Republic in one location, including permits, ground support, catering and transportation,” concludes Adolfo Aragon, senior VP for Latin America and the Caribbean at Universal.