Complying with the demanding international parameters, mobilizing more than eight million passengers per year, with ample availability for growth, the Punta Cana International Airport reaches its 39th anniversary and is consolidated among the most modern and original terminals in the world, on the way to becoming an ´Smart Airport´ or ´Smart Airport´.
Its characteristic, from 1984 to 2022, has been to grow and do so constantly with great expansions such as those of 1986, 1999, 2009 and 2014, when Terminal B was built and at each stage it adds innovative elements such as a children’s play area, loading areas, connection walkway, runway extension or taxi way.
With two courts of 3,100 square metersthe terminal allows landing and take off of 60 aircraft per hour and the movement of passengers towards 27 Gate. Availability for 30 ground units and 30 positions. Terminal A received seven million passengers and Terminal B averaged six million last year.
Punta Cana Airport generates 500 direct employees and 7,500 indirect contracted by the airlines, tour operators, government personnel, cargo areas and airport security that operate here. The daily average of flights is between 70 and 75 aircraft, which totals about 500 weekly flights, while the busiest peak hour at the terminal is between 11:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon.
The administrator of the Punta Cana Airport, Alberto Smith, maintains that Frank Rainieri’s vision in conceiving and projecting it was as accurate as the plans of his son, Frank Elías Rainieri, in expanding and diversifying it into a free zone with global impact.
He mentions that his growth and expansion slowed down in execution due to the pandemic, it always continued in its planning, in a feat that has allowed it to remodel its VIP lounge by the famous designer Adriana Hoyos, luggage strap areas, check-ins and identification.
It has a modern pool in Hall Bwith a beautiful view of the track, amenities and princely attentions, where towels and bathrobes are supplied, to take a bath, before boarding, as well as special areas for children to play and have fun.
Big project
And it is that the energy of the Punta Cana Group is accurate, based on trust and faith in God, so the construction of a Free Zone Park, to serve as a logistics center for the region in fuel supply, cargo aircraft maintenance.
The ambitious project has been assigned an area in a perimeter of 750 thousand square meters and an investment of US$200 million as a big bet, which will place the terminal among the most original, modern and productive in the world.
Smith refers that will add 20,000 new jobs, its development in 20 years, perhaps less, will reach its maximum production. The project will achieve the consolidation of the terminal as a favorite center for fuel supply of cargo ships and will have areas of; repackaging, invoice, administrative offices and international business areas.
smart airport
Security, good treatment and speed go hand in hand with modernity. The equipment purchased at high cost, contracted to CITA, the world’s largest airport providers, seeks facilities for travelers in the steps from the moment they arrive at the terminal until they board the aircraftwhich has been achieved, without risks or surprises, due to the modern security and surveillance equipment available, according to journalists from Daily Listin on a tour with: Adolfo Rodríguez, Terminal Operations Manager and Francina Herasme, Communications.
Processes that used to take 10 minutes have been reduced to eight seconds such as the scanning of the passport upon arrival and departure, facilitating the work of Immigration and Customs that, although government personnel do it, the millionaire investment in modern equipment has been made by the Punta Cana Group, determined to make the stay more pleasant for the visiting tourist. the country, which sit at the airport, as a continuation of the luxurious hotel.
The US$12 million investment it has brought about a transformation, incorporating modern machinery and processes, one of which has replaced the uncomfortable requisitions with the ´Check point´, modern CTX (luggage scanners) that detect explosives, narcotics, money and organic food; which joins the crew of 27 trained canines, for internal detection tasks.
Just last week, seven canines of the German Shepherd breed were donated, which are considered favorites in the detection of unauthorized loads, together with the Pastor Velga and who carry out an efficient work, having the care of specialized personnel. .
A reference
Based on the innovations, other terminals have copied the facilities, which have won international recognition for their efficiency and the anti-Covid-19 measures adopted; achieving the first positions, which take into account the entities that monitor airports worldwide, by region, passenger volumes, times and satisfaction.
With special flights to various destinations, its most common routes are; Madrid, Toronto, New York, Frankfurt, Miami, Bogotá and Lima. A tour of its interior shows paintings, photographic sequences and original decorations with typical samples of the country, for which the Customer Service department of colleges, schools, take the opportunity to visit it for educational purposes, as the San José de Higúey high school does. At the same time, IDAC personnel give frequent courses and training to personnel assigned to the terminal.
Charging Hub
The Punta Cana International Airport has two other available areas that could serve the same number of passengers, it grows beyond its need, so it is heading to position itself as a Cargo Hub in the region with availability to meet the needs of the Multimodal Caucedo port, Guatemala, Ecuador and other places that will reduce costs by this route.
For this month of September, 12% of the operations of 2018 have already been exceeded, which is taken as a parameter of a good year, which indicates the ascending graph and the modern vision of the Rainieri family that have made this terminal compare in modernity, quality and satisfaction with those of; Singapore, Qatar and Atlanta, world leaders in air navigation.
