Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), the company that manages the airports belonging to the Dominican State, announced the temporary closure of General Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata.
The measure is due to repair and modernization works to be carried out on the airport’s single runway, which has an orientation of 08/26 and is 3,081 meters long. Operations will be suspended between May 9th and May 20th. The working period was chosen after analyzing the annual traffic flow, with the aim of generating the least possible impact on the operations.
According to Aerodom, the activities will involve an investment of more than 4.5 million dollars. They will seek to extend the useful life of the runway, improve operating conditions and correct the leveling of the central section. Once completed, the airport will be able to receive any wide-body aircraft without any type of restriction and with improved safety.
The airport is the fourth in the country in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements, behind the airports of Punta Cana (PUJ), Santo Domingo-Las Américas (SQD) and Cibao (STI). It functions as an important inbound hub for the tourism industry, one of the main economic activities of the Dominican Republic.
However, the airport concessionaire assured that the closure will not affect the flow of visitors to the country. Aerodom explained that some forty international commercial flights have already been rescheduled and will arrive at other terminals.
According to information provided by Vinci Airports, the French airport development and operating company of which Aerodom is a part, Puerto Plata airport handled 862,000 passengers during 2019, in 6,205 movements to and from 37 destinations.
The airport is served by US, Canadian and European airlines. The main markets served are Toronto, Miami and Montreal. It also has an important passenger flow with Düsseldorf, Moscow and Brussels, among other European cities.
See also: Vinci Airports presents renovation works at Santo Domingo Las Americas International Airport
