Santo Domingo. - The president of the Dominican airline Pawa yesterday said the three planes acquired by the company to cover flights between the United States, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo will be bear the names the country’s three founding fathers, Duarte, Sanchez and Mella.

Juan Carlos Hernandez headed Pawa’s inaugural flight to San Juan, the first carrier to do so after the l6 year-ban against local airlines flying to U.S. territory.

“We want to announce in this impressive act, that the three DC-9 airplanes that Dominican Pawa acquired to fly to American territory and Puerto Rico, will carry with much pride, the names of the three founders of the nation, Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,” he said.