Punta Cana - American charter company, AirTran Airways, announced on Tuesday its plans to offer a new service Atlanta and Punta Cana. Already serving Cancun, Montego Bay, Aruba and Nassau, Punta Cana will become the airlines 5th Caribbean destination.

Air Tran is one of the United States´ youngest charter companies and already offers more than 700 daily flights to over 60 destinations with the youngest Boeing fleet of 717 and 737 jets in the business.

The new service offered by Air Tran will see nonstop flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) International and Punta Cana International airport (PUJ) and will start its twice weekly service beginning February 16 next year.

Punta Cana - Frank Rainieri, President of the Puntacana Group, has announced the expansion of the International Airport of Punta Cana. Among the construction plans are a new runway at a cost of US$30million. With PUJ being the biggest airport in the Dominican Republic in terms of arriving passengers (almost 60% of all arrivals come here) a new runway and terminal building will help boost further the areas tourism.

The new runway will be 3,110 meters long and is expected to be completed by April 2011. Punta Cana is expecting a 7-10% increase in tourist arrivals this year, and along with other airports in the Dominican Republic, is the first and last impression to said tourists and hence the airport is expected to give an excellent service from start to finish.

Saturday, November 28th - The Brugal Foundation along with the Punta Cana Foundation will hold the II Golf Foundation´s Match at the Punta Cana Resort & Golf Course.

The event is once again taking place to raise funds for health and education projects including the development of the 3rd stage of the public clinic in Veron and to provide follow up and support the teachers and managers of the Fe & Alegria education centers across the country.

Traditionally the two foundations have supported social, cultural and environmental programs in areas where they operate. In the case of Punta Cana, these programs are developed in the eastern Higuey province, whereas Brugal focuses in Puerto Plata and the Northern regions of the country.

Dominican President, Leonel Fernandez, inaugurated the work on the new highway (El Coral) last week. The new highway will reduce by more than 50km the distance between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.

The work has been awarded to Constructora Autopista del Coral S.A., who have promised to have the work completed within 3 years at an estimated cost of US$279million.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Public Works Secretary, Victor Diaz Rua, announced that the government will also give to the contractor a further US$10million in order to re-start the work on the Touristic Boulevard in Punta Cana which encompasses all the hotels in the zone in order to reduce the amount of traffic passing through La Otra Banda

Punta Cana which is already the fastest growing tourist destination in the Caribbean, is on the verge of receiving its first inaugural flight from British Airways. Scheduled flights begin operating a five times week service from London Gatwick on the 26^th of October.
Esther Smith, of the Dominican Republic Tourist Board, said The fact that, until now, we only had charter flights coming to the island contributed to the country's mass-market reputation," Smith said that new scheduled flights mean that higher class operators are adding us to their programs, along with some of the new five-star resorts and hotels.” Round trip fares from London’s second airport start from £615.  

British Airways Holidays will give a significant boost to the resort areas of Punta Cana, Bavaro, Bayahibe, & La Romana which in recent years have become renown for quality accommodation, breathtaking beaches, added to which, the warmth and friendliness of the Dominican culture, makes the Dominican Republic a very desirable holiday destination, all at very affordable prices. 

 

There are seven international airports in the Dominican Republic. These are:

Las Americas International Airport

In the capital city of Santo Domingo is the second busiest airport in the Dominican Republic. The following airlines provide service from Europe,  the United States, and Canada:  American Airlines, American Eagle, Copa, Continental Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue, Spirit, US Airways, Air France, Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, Pan Am, Air Caraibes, LIAT, and Air Canada.  Designation SDQ (MDSD).  Runway length 11,000 feet.  Phone 809-549-0450.

Punta Cana International Airport

Is a privately owned commercial airport that services flights from all over the world. Punta Cana is a tourist destination located on the east coast of the island.  Both scheduled and charter flights arrive here and in the year 2002 the airport handled over 1 million travelers, to surpass Las Americas Airport as the busiest airport in the country.  Designation PUJ (MDPC).  Runway length 10,100 feet.  Phone 809-668-4749.

La Romana/Casa de Campo International Airport

Is located near the city of La Romana and the tourist resort of Casa de Campo, in the southeast of the Dominican Republic.  It is a fairly new airport that was opened in the year 2000 and handles scheduled airlines and charter flights from Europe, Canada, and the United States.  Designation LRM (MDLR).  Runway length 6,500 feet.  Phone 809-556-5565.

Maria Montez International Airport 

Was founded in 1996 and bears the name of the 1940’s Hollywood film star who was born in Barahona.  The airport is located in the city of Barahona on the southeast coast of the island.  Designation BRX.  Runway length 9,843 feet.  Phone 809-524-4109.

Cibao International Airport

In the city of Santiago services airlines from the United States, Panama, Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Puerto Rico.  Designation STI (MDST).  Runway length 8,595 feet.  Phone 809-582-4894.

Gregorio Luperon International Airport

Is located just outside the city of Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.  It is also known as La Union/Puerto Plata International Airport.  Along with the Las Americas International and Punta Cana International, it is also one of the busiest airports on the island.  Besides domestic flights, and regularly scheduled flights it also handles hundreds of charter flights a week bringing visitors to the various tourist destinations on the north coast.  Designation POP (MDPP).  Runway length 10,105 feet.  Phone 809-586-0107 or 809-586-0219..

El Catey International Airport

In Samana which received its first international flight on November 7^th, was officially inaugurated on December 12, 2006.  A big boom to the tourism industry in this province, this airport will now handle international charter flights from Europe and Canada.  Designation AZS.  Runway length 9,843 feet.