Puerto Plata – As the Punta Bergantín tourism project begins to reshape Puerto Plata’s landscape with new hotel developments, the region’s aeronautical sector is gearing up to make use of the A380 to accommodate a surge in visitors. A key component of this expansion is the creation of new flight options for tourists, with plans to add eight weekly flights to Gregorio Luperón International Airport.
Part of the master plan includes a strategic plan aiming to improve air connectivity, allowing Puerto Plata to welcome more international travelers. In line with this vision, Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) is positioning itself to host larger aircraft, including the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane, at Gregorio Luperón airport—an ambitious move that could elevate Puerto Plata’s status as a major Caribbean destination.
Carlos Rodoli, the director of Aerodom Norte, shared this vision in an interview with arecoa.com, emphasizing the importance of repositioning the terminal to meet the growing demands of the tourism sector. Rodoli also noted that Aerodom is actively working on the terminal’s remodeling and expansion to handle increased air traffic, particularly during the fall season.
“We are working on bringing the largest aircraft in the world, the A380, to Puerto Plata. We are making arrangements to ensure the destination is ready and attractive to operators,” Rodoli said. While no firm date has been set, the goal is to see a significant increase in passenger traffic by the end of 2024, surpassing the numbers from 2023.
In 2023, Gregorio Luperón International Airport served 736,000 passengers, and by mid-2024, it had already handled 600,000, which is 81% of the previous year’s total. Rodoli is optimistic that the airport will continue this upward trend.
To achieve this growth, several new routes are in the pipeline. Delta Airlines is set to launch flights connecting Atlanta with Barbados and Puerto Plata starting on November 23, 2024. Additionally, the Dominican low-cost airline Arajet plans to introduce flights from Puerto Plata to South America, further expanding the region’s connectivity.
“Puerto Plata has been the fastest-growing destination in the Dominican Republic, with a 25% increase over last year. We have promising projections from several airlines, and we expect to close the year with a significant boost in both operations and visitor arrivals,” Rodoli added.
This strategic push to enhance the airport’s capacity, attract larger aircraft, and introduce new international routes is crucial to supporting the Punta Bergantín project. As hotel development accelerates, the aviation sector’s readiness will be key in sustaining Puerto Plata’s rapid growth and cementing its place as a leading tourism destination in the Caribbean.