Travelers, airless scream as slow Immigration check delays flights

Santo Domingo.-Several airlines operating at Las Americas Airporton Wednesday complained that the lack of Immigration inspectors in the service boothslead to delays of departing flights.

Airline executives complained that of the 12 Immigration boothsat the terminal only six are operating, causing flight delays.

They said despite apprising Immigration authorities and airportmanagement (Aerodom) executives of the problem, nothing has been done about it.

The executives, who asked not be identified because they weren’tauthorized to speak to the media, said the problem is disrupting operations withdelays as long as 20 minutes.

They said the few immigration inspectors aren’t enough tocheck two or three flights at the same time calls during peak hours, causing backupsof departing travelers.

They stressed that even though Immigration director MaximoW. Muñoz is aware of the problem affecting the US-based airlines at LasAmericas, he has done nothing about it.

The overcrowding of local and foreign travelers awaitingprocessing in the Immigration lounge was especially evident on Wednesday, when justsix of the 12 inspectors on duty.