Punta Cana International Airport
{{Short description|Airport in the Dominican Republic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Punta Cana Airport
| nativename = {{smaller|{{lang|es|Aeropuerto de Punta Cana}}}}
| image = Punta Cana International Airport logo.png
| image-width = 150
| image2 = Punta Cana (PUJ - MDPC) AN1562239.jpg
| image2-width = 250
| IATA = PUJ
| ICAO = MDPC
| type = Private-owned, Public-use
| owner-oper = {{nowrap|Puntacana Resort and Club}}
Grupo Puntacana
| city-served = Punta Cana, Higüey, Bávaro
| location = Punta Cana in La Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic
| opened = {{start date and age|1983|12|17|df=yes}}
| elevation-f = 40
| elevation-m = 12.2
| coordinates = {{coord|18|34|00|N|68|21|07|W|region:DO|display=inline,title}}
| website = {{URL|www.puntacanainternationalairport.com|puntacanainternationalairport.com}}
| operating_base = Arajet{{Cite web |last=Casey |first=David |date=9 July 2024 |title= Arajet Seeks To Add Nearly 20 International Routes From Punta Cana |access-date=12 September 2024 | url= https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/arajet-seeks-add-nearly-20-international-routes-punta-cana |website=AviationWeek}}
| pushpin_map = Dominican Republic
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Dominican Republic
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_label = PUJ/MDPC
| pushpin_label_position = top
| r1-number = 08/26
| r1-length-f = 10,171
| r1-length-m = 3,100
| r1-surface = Asphalt concrete
| r2-number = 09/27
| r2-length-f = 10,171
| r2-length-m = 3,100
| r2-surface = Asphalt concrete
| stat-year = 2024
| stat1-header = Total passengers
| stat1-data = 10,105,713
| stat2-header = Aircraft operations
| stat2-data = 61,530
| footnotes = Source: [http://www.bancentral.gov.do/estadisticas_economicas/turismo/ Banco Central República Dominicana]
{{Ref|1|1}} Runway 08/26 Main runway.
{{Ref|2|2}} Runway 09/27 back up runway.
}}
Punta Cana Airport {{airport codes|PUJ|MDPC}} is a privately owned commercial airport in Punta Cana, eastern Dominican Republic. The airport was built with open-air terminals and roofs covered in palm fronds. Grupo Puntacana built the airport, which was designed by architect Oscar Imbert, and inaugurated it in December 1983. It is owned by Grupo Puntacana and became the first privately owned international airport in the world.
The airport is the busiest in the Dominican Republic, and the second-busiest of the Caribbean, only behind Puerto Rico's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. In 2022, more than 8.3 million passengers (arrivals and departures combined) passed through the terminals that year, with almost 50,000 commercial aircraft operations.{{cite web|title=Punta Cana Airport Information|url=http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/airport-services/airport-information|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216223229/http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/airport-services/airport-information|archive-date=16 December 2014|access-date=|publisher=Puntacanainternationalairport.com}}{{Cite web |last=Diario |first=Listin |date=27 December 2022 |title=Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana logra récord de 8 millones de pasajeros en un año |url=https://listindiario.com/economia/2022/12/27/755314/aeropuerto-internacional-de-punta-cana-logra-record-de-8-millones-de-pasajeros-en-un-ano.html |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=listindiario.com |language=es}} In 2023, the airport accounted for 60% of all air arrivals in the Dominican Republic.{{Cite web |last=Externa |first=Fuente |date=28 February 2023 |title=Dominican Republic broke record in flight operations in 2022 |url=https://dmklawyers.com/en/dominican-republic-broke-record-in-flight-operations-in-2022/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=DMK Abogados |language=en-US}} The airport serves 90 airports in 26 countries.{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Punta Cana International Airport Official Website|url=http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/index.php|access-date=4 June 2017|website=PuntaCanaInternationalAirport.com}}
History
= Beginnings =
The history of aviation in the Punta Cana region started in 1971, when Grupo Puntacana built the first hotel in the area, called "Punta Cana Club", along with a small airstrip. There were no terminals and no runway; it was just a flat piece of land. The only problem was that the area was very secluded from the rest of the Dominican Republic. Also, many more people were starting to go to Punta Cana for vacation, with more and more small cabins being built. Since there were no roads nor harbors, the only way to get into Punta Cana was by air.{{cite web|title=Nuesta Historia (Our history)|url=https://www.grupopuntacana.com.do/old-carreras/assets/nuestra-historia.pdf|access-date=25 July 2021|publisher=Grupopuntacana.com|archive-date=3 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303164100/http://www.grupopuntacana.com.do/old-carreras/assets/nuestra-historia.pdf|url-status=dead}}
In the late 1970s a road was built to connect the area with the capital of La Altagracia Province, Higüey. Tourists from various countries started to come in. They had to pass through Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, then take a short flight in a small plane to Punta Cana. The airstrip itself had significant problems, such as having a very short runway and still no terminal. This meant passengers would exit their plane and be directed onto a road to be picked up to ride to their hotel, which was inconvenient. Grupo PuntaCana knew it needed a real airport.
= Planning and construction =
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2022}}
In late 1974, Grupo Puntacana started to plan the first private international airport. However, the local government disapproved of the new airport. After eight full years of arguing with the province, a contract was made to begin construction on the new airport. The airport would be built where the old airstrip stood. In early 1981 planning started on the airport. Oscar Imbert (son of General Antonio Imbert) was chosen as architect. He wanted the terminal architecture to be based on Native American Tainos and Arawak structures. At the same time, he wanted to give the passengers a paradise feeling. The problem was that the planners did not want to pay for expensive air conditioning. The solution to this problem was to build the terminal in such a way that the coastal breezes from the Caribbean Sea would come in and cool down the passengers. The terminal building was planned to have palm fronds for the roof, and stone from the nearby jungles for the walls. For the columns, they would use eucalyptus logs and build them in Taíno and Arawak styles.
Construction on the new airport started in early 1982, and the small airstrip had to close down. To substitute for the loss, a small concrete airstrip was made into a temporary airport. This strip would turn into a runway when the airport opened. Since the terminal was small and there was not a lot of construction needed, the terminal was completed in under four months. The runway and tarmac took a long time since there were not many construction workers building the airport. The area was secluded, which dissuaded many construction workers from trying to build the airport. However, after eight years of persuading the government, and two more years of construction, the airport began operations on 17 December 1983.
= 1980s =
The airport started out with a {{convert|5000|ft|adj=on}} runway, which could fit larger propeller planes. The building was {{convert|300|m2|order=flip}} in area, and could assist 150 passengers every hour and a half.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The small control tower also began operation.
In January 1984, Punta Cana had its first international flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, operated by the Puerto Rican airline, Prinair. The aircraft was a small double turbo propeller aircraft with 20 passengers. In 1984, the airport received 2,976 passengers.{{cite web | url = http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/assets/punta-cana-tech-data-fact-sheet_2015.pdf | title = Airport Tech Data | publisher = Puntacanainternationalairport.com | date = March 2015 | access-date = 30 May 2015 | archive-date = 20 October 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161020115120/http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/assets/punta-cana-tech-data-fact-sheet_2015.pdf | url-status = dead }}
With a proper airport, many new hotels were built. As a result, this brought an increased demand to bring jet aircraft to Punta Cana, since the airport would have to accommodate more people. This led to the airport's first expansion in 1986. The runway was extended to {{convert|7500|ft}}, and there was a small expansion in the check-in area of the terminal, along with the renovation of the terminal. The tarmac was also expanded to accommodate jet aircraft, and the control tower had new radar systems added to it. This expansion allowed many more aircraft to land at the airport. In 1987, the first route between Punta Cana and the United States began, with Miami International Airport.
During this time, new airlines from around the Caribbean started to fly here. There were only about four airlines in 1988. All of these small airlines were regional, coming from different parts of the Caribbean. The second expansion was added in 1988, with the addition of a new taxiway. In 1989, the first private jets started to fly to the airport. Towards the end of 1989, another expansion started to extend the runway to {{convert|10171|ft}}. This expansion was completed in late 1990.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
= 1990s =
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2022}}
The 1990s brought a major change to the airport. Now that the runway was 10,171 feet (3,100 m), long-haul jets could fly there. Some of the first airlines to fly charters to Punta Cana during this time were Monarch Airlines and Air Belgium in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Condor was expanding rapidly, following the addition of their new Boeing 767s and one of its new destinations from Frankfurt was Punta Cana.
These became the first routes from Europe and the first long-haul routes in the airport's history. Around the same time, LTU International started a route from Berlin. Many airlines around the Caribbean stopped operations to the airport, as a result of the new long-haul flights. In 1993, the airline Hapag-Lloyd Flug began a route from Düsseldorf. Air Transat began a route from Montréal, which became the first route from Canada. In 1994, American Airlines started operations to Miami International Airport. The same year, Lauda Air began operations from Vienna. The Dutch wanted a route to Punta Cana, so in January 1995, Martinair began operations from Amsterdam Schiphol. ATA Airlines started to fly to Midway International Airport in early 1996. In October 1996, the Chilean airline Lan Chile began to fly 767s from Bogota and Santiago.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
Over time, more airlines from Europe, Canada, and the US began operations to Punta Cana. The late 1990s saw many new European charter carriers such as Britannia Airways, Air Europe, and Iberworld. There was increasing demand for an expansion, as the tarmac was not big enough to fit all of the new jet aircraft. This was becoming a major problem, as new airlines could not introduce new routes unless the airport expanded.
Towards the end of 1998, the airport became highly congested, with severe delays due to restricted space on the apron. This congestion was also exacerbated by the lack of a parallel taxiway next to runway 09/27, which meant aircraft had to backtrack down the runway in order to utilise the runway's full length when taking off or landing. The rapid growth of the airport's route network was too excessive for the small airport. As the number of passengers grew, Grupo PuntaCana planned a massive expansion, which began in 1999.
= 2000s =
In 2000, after the completion of the expansion, the terminal was renovated and expanded to twice its original size to {{convert|600|m2|ft2|order=flip}}. A long taxiway was added to prevent a collision on the runway, and the tarmac was expanded to fit six aircraft. This expansion was completed in 2001, and airline growth continued.
During this time, Punta Cana was drastically changing, with the addition of new hotels, malls, and infrastructure. Many people were flying to Punta Cana annually, and once again the airport was crowded by 2002. A new parking lot was built along with the new PuntaCana Village. By 2003, there was a small expansion of the terminal and the tarmac was expanded to allow seven aircraft to park. This was also the year the Grupo Puntacana had begun the planning of a second runway.
In 2004, Terminal 2 opened, the second terminal at the airport. As many old charter carriers from the 1990s began to cease operations to the airport, each new year brought new airlines and destinations. Several prominent leisure carriers such as Transaero, Pullmantur Air, and Corsairfly started operations with large aircraft such as the Boeing 747.
= 2010s =
In 2011, a new second runway was opened, which permitted more long-haul flights from countries like France, England, and Brazil with large planes such as the Boeing 747-400, the Boeing 777, and the Airbus A340.{{cite web|date=25 November 2011|title=Grupo PuntaCana inaugura nueva pista en el Aeropuerto Internacional|url=https://www.arecoa.com/destinos/2011/11/25/presidente-fernandez-inaugura-nueva-pista-en-aeropuerto-punta-cana/|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Arecoa.com|language=es}}{{Cite news|date=12 May 2010|title=Construyen una nueva pista de aterrizaje en Punta Cana|url=https://hoy.com.do/construyen-una-nueva-pista-de-aterrizaje-en-punta-cana/|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Hoy Digital|language=en}} With this expansion, the airport became the first in the Caribbean to have two runways longer than 10,000 feet. Along with the new runway, a new control tower, Terminal Approach Radar Control facility and a new Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) were all presented.{{cite web|title=Nuestra Historia|url=https://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/35aniversario/|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Punta Cana International Airport}}
In November 2014, Terminal B was officially inaugurated.{{cite web|date=2 November 2014|title=Punta Cana International Airport Opens Brand-New Terminal|url=https://www.caribjournal.com/2014/11/02/punta-cana-international-airport-opens-brand-new-terminal/|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Caribbean Journal|language=en}} This terminal uses jet bridges, the first terminal at the airport to use them. The new terminal is also completely enclosed, unlike the other terminals at the airport.
In November 2017, a new VIP lounge opened, which included a pool.{{cite web|title=Punta Cana Airport VIP Lounge: An Inside Look|url=https://www.loungebuddy.com/blog/punta-cana-airport-vip-lounge|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Loungebuddy.com}}{{cite web|last=Ballester|first=Marcelo|date=16 December 2018|title=Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana celebra 35 años liderando en RD|url=https://puntacana-bavaro.com/2018/12/16/aeropuerto-internacional-de-punta-cana-celebra-35-anos-liderando-en-rd/|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Online Punta Cana Bavaro|language=es}}
Facilities
=Terminals=
The airport has five terminals:
- International Terminals A and B – international commercial passenger travel
- FBO Terminal – executive general aviation
- National Terminal – serves national charter and general aviation flights
- VIP Terminal – private terminal including an aircraft parking apron
Terminal A, the older terminal of the two international terminals, uses aircraft stairs for passengers to deplane and board aircraft with access for disabled people using wheelchair lifts. Terminal B was built with seven airbridges, three being for wide-body aircraft. This new terminal was completed in 2014 and can comfortably accommodate 6,500 travelers daily and over 2 million travelers annually. As of 2023, Terminal B was expanded with seven additional gates and three remote gates serving multiple airlines with a modern terminal expansion. Terminal B went from 7 gates to 14 gates with boarding bridges and 3 remote gates.{{cite web|date=23 October 2014|title=PUJ is ready to inaugurate modern, convenient air travel with Terminal B|url=http://www.puntacanablogs.com/blog/puj-is-ready-to-inaugurate-modern-convenient-air-travel-with-terminal-b|access-date=4 June 2017|website=Puntacana Blogs}}
=U.S. preclearance=
Plans were underway for a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance station to be opened at the airport by the end of mid 2009;{{cite web|url = http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/7/25/28787/Busiest-Dominican-airport-to-have-US-Customs-Immigration-station-Nuevo|title = Busiest Dominican airport to have U.S. Customs, Immigration station, Nuevo Diario reports| publisher=Dominicantoday.com | date = 25 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608182147/http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/7/25/28787/Busiest-Dominican-airport-to-have-US-Customs-Immigration-station-Nuevo |archive-date=8 June 2009 }} however, this has not yet begun.{{cite web|last=Newsdesk|date=2 December 2016|title=United States, Dominican Republic Sign Agreement to Open Pre-clearance Facility in Punta Cana|url=https://www.travelagentcentral.com/transportation/united-states-dominican-republic-sign-agreement-to-open-pre-clearance-facility-punta|access-date=26 September 2021|website=Travel Agent Central|language=en}} According to Frank Rainieri, president of Grupo Puntacana, negotiations have re-opened (as of June 2015) and he anticipates that this airport will be the first in Latin America to offer such preclearance service.{{cite web |url=http://www.bavaronews.com/semanal/index.php/actualidad/locales/3922-aeropuerto-de-punta-cana-primero-en-la-region-listo-para-pre-inspeccion%7Ctitle%3D |title=Bavaro News; Year X; edition 287; page 4 |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330114935/http://www.bavaronews.com/semanal/index.php/actualidad/locales/3922-aeropuerto-de-punta-cana-primero-en-la-region-listo-para-pre-inspeccion%7Ctitle%3D |archive-date=30 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} As of December 2020, the preclearance station is still planned, but is waiting to receive authorization from the Dominican Government to begin construction.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=13 December 2020|title=Rainieri: passenger preclearance would contribute US $ 1.2 billion to the DR|url=https://dominicantoday.com/dr/tourism/2020/12/13/rainieri-passenger-preclearance-would-contribute-us-1-2-billion-to-the-dr/|access-date=26 September 2021|website=DominicanToday|language=en}}
Airlines and destinations
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Punta Cana International Airport:
{{Airport destination list
| {{nowrap|Aerolíneas Argentinas}} | Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Córdoba,{{cite web | url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2024/05/cordoba-punta-cana-aerolineas-argentinas-lanzo-la-venta-de-su-nueva-ruta-con-conexiones-al-interior/ | title=Córdoba – Punta Cana: Aerolíneas Argentinas lanzó la venta de su nueva ruta con conexiones al interior | date=12 May 2024 }} Rosario, Tucumán{{cite web | url=https://www.reportur.com/argentina/2024/07/29/aerolineas-argentinas-volara-a-punta-cana-desde-tucuman-y-rosario/ | title=Aerolíneas Argentinas volará a Punta Cana desde Tucumán y Rosario | date=29 July 2024 }}
| Aeroméxico | Mexico City (resumes 26 June 2025){{cite web|url=https://enelaire.mx/aeromexico-anuncia-segunda-expansion-del-ano-en-conectividad-internacional/|title=Aeromexico announces second expansion of the year in international connectivity|language=Spanish|website=EnElAire|date=February 2025|accessdate=5 February 2025}}
| Air Canada | Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Toronto–Pearson{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Air Canada Rouge | Seasonal: Halifax,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Montréal–Trudeau,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Ottawa,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Quebec City,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Toronto–Pearson{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Air Century | Aruba, Curaçao, Havana, St. Maarten
| Air Europa | Madrid
| Air Transat | Montréal–Trudeau, Québec City, Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Halifax,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} London (ON),{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Moncton,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Ottawa,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Windsor (begins 19 December 2025){{cite web |title=Air Transat NW25 Cancun / Punta Cana Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250516-tsnw25cunpuj |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=16 May 2025}}
| American Airlines | Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Dallas/Fort Worth,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Miami, New York–JFK, Philadelphia
Seasonal: Boston,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Indianapolis (begins 6 December 2025),{{cite web|title=American Airlines Adds 8 New Routes For Winter 2025-26|website=Aviation A2Z|url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/03/26/american-airlines-adds-8-new-routes-for-winter-2025-26/|date=26 March 2025|access-date=26 March 2025}} Nashville (begins 6 December 2025), Pittsburgh (begins 6 December 2025), Raleigh/Durham (begins 6 December 2025){{cite web |last1=Eberly |first1=Keaton |title=RDU to offer new international flights to the Dominican Republic |url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/rdu-to-offer-new-international-flights-to-the-dominican-republic/ |access-date=26 March 2025}}
| Arajet | Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Cancún, Cartagena, Chicago–O'Hare (begins 15 November 2025),{{cite web | url= https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=24826516&gfv=1 | title= Arajet Announces Chicago O'Hare Route, Now Servicing Five Major U.S. Cities | date=20 May 2025 }} Guayaquil,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nlarenas.com/2024/08/arajet-cambia-conexiones-a-punta-cana-santo-domingo/|title=Arajet cambia conexiones a Punta Cana en vez de Santo Domingo|accessdate=12 August 2024|date=August 2024|language=es|website=nlarenas.com}} Kingston–Norman Manley,{{cite web |title=Arajet Launches Punta Cana Service From late-Oct 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240720-dmnw24 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=20 July 2024}} Lima, Medellin–JMC,{{cite web |title=Arajet desde octubre tres nuevas rutas desde el Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana |date=22 August 2024 |url=https://aviationclubcenter.com/index.php/2024/08/22/arajet-desde-octubre-tres-nuevas-rutas-desde-el-aeropuerto-internacional-de-punta-cana/ |access-date=22 August 2024}} Mexico City–AIFA, Miami (begins 13 June 2025),{{cite web | url= https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250205-dmns25mia | title= ARAJET PLANS PUNTA CANA – MIAMI MID-2025 LAUNCH | date=5 February 2025 }} Montréal–Trudeau, Orlando/Sanford (begins 26 October 2025),{{cite web | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250528664367/en/Arajet-Expands-Florida-Presence-With-New-Orlando-Route | title= Arajet Expands Florida Presence With New Orlando Route |website=Business Wire| date=28 May 2025 }} Quito, San Juan (begins 6 June 2025),{{cite web |title=Arajet comienza venta de pasajes hacia San Juan |url=https://www.elvocero.com/economia/arajet-comienza-venta-de-pasajes-hacia-san-juan/article_5403beb6-ed40-11ef-96fd-1f07ef57e793.amp.html |website=El Vocero |access-date=17 February 2025 |date=17 February 2025}} Santiago de Chile, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Toronto–Pearson
| Avelo Airlines | Seasonal: Hartford,{{cite web |last=Shook |first=Ashley |title=Punta Cana nonstop flights coming to Bradley International Airport |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/connecticut/punta-cana-nonstop-flights-coming-to-bradley-international-airport/ |website=WWLP|date=9 December 2024|access-date=9 December 2024}} Raleigh/Durham{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Allison |title=Avelo Airlines Just Announced 7 New Routes — Including 2 to the Caribbean |url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/avelo-airlines-north-carolina-jamaica-dominican-republic-8756133 |website=Travel+Leisure|date=4 December 2024|access-date=4 December 2024}}
| Avianca | Bogotá, Medellin–JMC
| Avianca Ecuador | Quito{{cite web | url=https://aviationclubcenter.com/index.php/2024/08/13/avianca-ha-anunciado-la-apertura-de-dos-nuevas-rutas-internacionales/ | title=Avianca ha anunciado la apertura de dos nuevas rutas internacionales | date=13 August 2024 }}
| British Airways | London–Gatwick
| Copa Airlines | Panama City–Tocumen
| Corsair International | Seasonal: Paris–Orly{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, New York–JFK
Seasonal: Boston,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Detroit,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Minneapolis/St. Paul{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Discover Airlines | Frankfurt
Seasonal: Munich (resumes 26 October 2025){{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250128-4ynw25puj|title=Discover Airlines Resumes Munich – Punta Cana in NW25|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=28 January 2025|accessdate=2 February 2025|language=en-ca}}
| Edelweiss Air | Zürich
| Flair Airlines | Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Frontier Airlines | Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati,{{cite web |title=Frontier Airlines May 2025 Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250207-f9may25 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=7 February 2025}} Cleveland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Seasonal: Atlanta,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} St. Louis,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} San Juan{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| {{nowrap|Gol Linhas Aéreas}} | São Paulo–Guarulhos
| Iberojet | Madrid{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/10/iberojet-anuncia-vuelos-desde-barcelona-a-cancun-y-punta-cana/|title=Iberojet announces flights from Barcelona to Cancun and Punta Cana|language=es|access-date=12 November 2021|date=November 2021|website=Aviacionline}}
Seasonal: Barcelona,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Lisbon{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Seasonal charter: Porto{{cite web |title=Iberojet inaugurates flights between Porto and Punta Cana |url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/07/iberojet-inaugurates-flights-between-porto-and-punta-cana/ |website=Aeroroutes |date=22 July 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022}}
| JetBlue | Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, New York–JFK, Orlando, San Juan
| LATAM Chile | Miami, Santiago de Chile
| LATAM Perú | Lima
| LOT Polish Airlines | Seasonal charter: Katowice,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Vilnius,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Warsaw–Chopin{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|Neos | Seasonal: Milan–Malpensa{{cite web |url=https://www.ttgitalia.com/attualita/burgio-alpitour-per-noi-l-ia-e-un-progetto-collettivo-FM19621884 |title=Burgio, Alpitour: "Per noi l'IA è un progetto collettivo" |date=21 May 2024|website=ttgitalia.com |language=it |trans-title=Burgio, Alpitour: [...]}}
Seasonal charter: Prague{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Prinair | Charter: Aguadilla{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Sky Airline Peru | Lima
| Southwest Airlines | Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Nashville,{{cite web |url=https://www.arecoa.com/aerolineas/2024/08/26/southwest-expande-sus-vuelos-enlazara-nashville-con-punta-cana |title=Southwest expande sus vuelos: enlazará Nashville con Punta Cana |language=es |website=Arecoa |date=26 August 2024 |access-date=26 March 2025}} Orlando{{cite web | url=https://swamedia.com/releases/release-d5bda4d2c147f577fd1d8c167c5baaab-southwest-airlines-extends-flight-schedule-with-new-international-options-and-most-ever-departures/ | title=Southwest Airlines Extends Flight Schedule with New International Options and Most-Ever Departures | date=26 October 2023 | access-date=26 October 2023 | archive-date=26 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026190859/https://swamedia.com/releases/release-d5bda4d2c147f577fd1d8c167c5baaab-southwest-airlines-extends-flight-schedule-with-new-international-options-and-most-ever-departures | url-status=dead }}
Seasonal: Houston–Hobby,{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines 1H23 International Network Additions – 26JAN23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230127-wn1h23int |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=27 January 2023}} St. Louis{{cite web|url=https://thetravelsisters.com/southwest-international-destinations/|title = All Southwest Airlines International Flight Destinations|date = 6 February 2025}}
| Spirit Airlines | Baltimore,{{cite web | url=https://patch.com/maryland/odenton/spirit-airlines-launches-flight-bwi-airport-punta-cana | title=New Flight from BWI Airport to Caribbean Beach Town Announced | date=9 January 2025 }} Detroit (begins 12 June 2025),{{cite web| url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/03/26/new-spirit-airlines-destinations-detroit-metro-michigan-flights/82671341007/ | title=Where can you fly with Spirit Airlines? New routes coming this spring for Michigan fliers | date=26 March 2025 | access-date=10 April 2025}} Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Philadelphia{{cite web |last1=Karp |first1=Aaron |title=ULCC Spirit To Launch Seven New Philadelphia Routes |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297277/ulcc-spirittolaunch-seven-new-philadelphia-routes/ |website=Routesonline |access-date=14 December 2021}}
| Sun Country Airlines | Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Milwaukee,{{cite web|title=Sun Country Airlines will offer nonstop flights from Milwaukee to two Caribbean countries|date= 21 May 2024|url= https://www.wisn.com/article/milwaukee-nonstop-flights-jamaica-dominican-republic/60861232|access-date=21 May 2024}} Minneapolis/St. Paul{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| Sunrise Airways | Port-au-Prince{{cite web |title=Sunrise Airways Adds Punta Cana Service From late-Oct 2022 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221012-s6nw22puj |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=12 October 2022}}
| TUI Airways | London–Gatwick, Manchester
Seasonal: Belfast-International (begins 20 June 2026),{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/air-travel/new-holiday-destination-tui-ireland-announce-new-direct-flights-from-belfast-international-airport-to-the-dominican-republic-for-summer-2026/ar-AA1zgcZY?ocid=BingNewsSerp |title=New holiday destination: TUI Ireland announce new direct flights From Belfast International Airport To The Dominican Republic For Summer 2026 |work=News Letter |last=Murray |first=Gemma |date=18 February 2025 |access-date=26 March 2025 |via=MSN }} Birmingham
| TUI fly Belgium | Brussels (ends 30 October 2025){{cite web |title=TUIfly Belgium Discontinues Long-Haul Service in NW25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250210-tbnw25lh |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=10 February 2025}}
| TUI fly Netherlands | Amsterdam{{Cite journal|author=|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=34–42}}
| TUI fly Nordic | Seasonal charter: Stockholm–Arlanda{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240712-blxnw24arnpuj | title=TUIfly Nordic Adds Stockholm – Punta Cana Service in NW24 }}
| United Airlines | Chicago–O'Hare, Denver (begins 26 October 2025),{{cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/04/25/united-plans-more-international-routes/|title=United Plans More International Routes|publisher=AirlineGeeks.com|date=April 2025|accessdate=April 25, 2025}} Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles
| WestJet | Calgary, Montréal–Trudeau (begins May 29, 2025),https://www.travelweek.ca/news/tour-operators/westjet-flights-for-sunwing-vacations-packages-starting-may-29/ Québec City (begins May 29, 2025),https://www.travelweek.ca/news/tour-operators/westjet-flights-for-sunwing-vacations-packages-starting-may-29/ Toronto–Pearson
| Wingo | Bogota, Medellin–JMC
| World2Fly | Madrid
Charter: Lisbon,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Porto{{cite web | url=https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220408-2w3pns22 | title=World2Fly Schedules Orlando Sanford Charters June - August 2022 }}
Seasonal charter: Bratislava,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Prague{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230619-2wnw23btsprg|title=WORLD2FLY NW23 CZECHIA / SLOVAKIA CHARTERS|website=aeroroutes.com}}
}}
Statistics
Accidents and incidents
- On 22 May 2005, a Skyservice 767-300 suffered from a fracture in the upper fuselage and damaged landing gear after experiencing a hard landing and bouncing multiple times following a flight from Toronto. There were a few injuries but no fatalities among the 318 occupants of the aircraft and it was repaired and returned to service.{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20050522-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 767-31KER C-GLMC Punta Cana Airport|work=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=16 June 2019}}
- On 13 October 2014, the engine of a Jetstream Bae 32 aircraft belonging to Air Century Airlines caught fire while landing after a charter flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airplane crew declared an emergency and landed the aircraft at 20:45 local time, after a 49-minute flight, but the plane was destroyed in a subsequent fire. There were no injuries among the 13 passengers and two crew members.{{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/SeincendiaavinquedespegdesdeSanJuan-1872202.html|title=Se incendia avión que despegó desde San Juan|work=El Nuevo Dia|access-date=4 October 2015|archive-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103032255/http://www.elnuevodia.com/SeincendiaavinquedespegdesdeSanJuan-1872202.html|url-status=dead}}
- On 10 February 2016, Orenair Flight 554 to Moscow Domodedovo Airport reported an engine fire and smoke in the cabin. The crew decided to turn around and land the aircraft, without dumping fuel, rather circling around the airport. Upon landing the overweight aircraft, the landing gear overheated and caught fire, and the aircraft was evacuated. There were no injuries among the 371 occupants of the Boeing 777 and it remained grounded at the airport for ten months, leaving in December 2016.{{cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=493c6485|title=Incident: Orenair B772 at Punta Cana on Feb 10th 2016, engine shut down in flight, burst tyre and smoke on landing|work=The Aviation Herald|access-date=13 February 2019}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Punta Cana International Airport}}
- {{Official website|https://puntacanaairport.com}}
{{Portal bar|Dominican Republic|Aviation}}
{{Airports in the Dominican Republic|state=show}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in La Altagracia Province
Category:Airports in the Dominican Republic
Category:Airports established in 1983