Dominican Operator Stretches Its Legs

sky high Embraer E190
Credit: Embraer

Dominican carrier Sky High is seeking to further expand its services through the Caribbean and into the U.S. as it makes use of the range capabilities of its small fleet of Embraer E-Jets.

The Santo Domingo-based airline stepped up from operating three Embraer 145 regional jets in June 2022 with the arrival of the first E190 from Netherlands lessor Truenoord, making the company the type’s first Caribbean operator.

The airline now has five of the crossover jets—in a two-class, 98-seat layout—and in autumn 2023, it acquired two E175s from U.S. lessor Regional One to supplement the larger aircraft.

Backing up the fleet, Embraer announced in October 2023 that it had signed a multi-year contract extension with Sky High Aviation for the manufacturer’s Pool Program, under which the carrier will receive support for a wide range of repairable components.

Sky High now has a network of services to around a dozen points throughout the Caribbean and to South American destinations including Venezuela and French Guiana. In late 2022, it received authorization to serve the U.S. and in November 2023 began services between Miami and the popular Dominican leisure destination of Punta Cana. Also in the U.S., the Embraers’ range enables Sky High to serve Providence, Rhode Island, some 1,615 mi. (1,400 nm) to the north. 

Alan Dron

Based in London, Alan is Europe & Middle East correspondent at Air Transport World.