Ultra-low-fare airline Frontier Airlines (NASDAQ: ULCC) celebrated the delivery of a new A321neo aircraft whose tail features Domingo and Andrea, the Hispaniola parakeets, in honor of destination partner, the Dominican Republic. It is recalled that Frontier provides services to six cities from the Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo and nine cities from the Punta Cana International Airport.
Every Frontier planetail features a unique animal with a special name and backstory, many of them belonging to endangered, threatened and vulnerable species. The Hispaniola parakeet, also known as the parakeet or parakeet, is medium-sized and endemic to the island of Hispaniola, home to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It inhabits a wide range of regions including lowland and montane forests, savannahs, open forests and urban centres. The birds are considered a vulnerable species as a result of massive population declines over the years caused by habitat loss and exploitation within the pet trade.
The two parakeets that appear on the new Frontier plane are called Domingo and Andrea. Domingo is a nod to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, while Andrea pays tribute to Andrea Thomen, a senior scientist leading a project helping to defend the parakeet and its habitats.
The Dominican Republic is a very valuable destination partner for Frontier with the airline operating service from Santo Domingo to San Juan, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa and Miami, as well as service from Punta Cana to San Juan, Miami, Orlando , Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, Chicago and Tampa.
“We are delighted to introduce this new aircraft that pays tribute to the treasured parakeets of Hispaniola and our important destination partner, the Dominican Republic,” said Tyri Squyres, vice president of marketing for Frontier Airlines. “Our mission is to bring attention to threatened animal species throughout North America and we are proud to shine a light on these beloved, colorful parakeets that bring so much joy to the people of the Dominican Republic.”
Fernando J. Abreu, Director of Air Relations for the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, said: “The choice to celebrate our endemic parakeets of Hispaniola, known locally as parakeets or parakeets, by naming an aircraft ‘Domingo and Andrea the Parakeets of Hispaniola’, reflects a deep knowledge of the unique natural treasures that the Dominican Republic possesses. We extend our sincere thanks to Frontier Airlines for recognizing the appeal of our natural wonders and their impact on tourism. “Our destination welcomes visitors from around the world to experience the beauty of our land, engage in bird watching, and contribute to the conservation efforts that make the Dominican Republic truly extraordinary.”