Trip Report: Aeropuerto Las Américas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The following is a summary of a trip report covering Aeropuerto Las Américas following a visit from our Global Vendor Team.

Report Details

• Visit Date: 03/24/2023
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Airport Name: Aeropuerto Las Américas
• ICAO Code: MDSD
• IATA Code: SDQ

Airport General Information

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Aeropuerto Las Américas serves the capital city of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. While commercial and cargo traffic are the primary focus, business aviation movements can be very significant depending on the season. The reason for this is that tourism is the main source of income for the small Caribbean country.

While the airport is owned by the Dominican government under Aerodon, Aeropuertos Dominicanos, it is operated by Vinci Airports. All the airports owned by Aerodon, which include those in Puerto Plata, Samana, and Barahona, have Menzies as the unique handler on the ground. MDSD is open 24 hours but only has one runway (17/35). From north to south, there is a cargo terminal, two commercial terminals (A and B), and a general aviation terminal/FBO. Each one has its own designated ramp.

For GA departures, passengers must follow the Arrival sign (Llegadas in Spanish) before reaching the terminal. There are several gate numbers on the right side, and Gate 3 (Puerta 3) is the one to use to enter the FBO. There is a large sign that says SERVAIR FBO. There is a strong barrier control to get access to the FBO area. Once inside the gate, there is a large space for passenger drop-off and significant parking spaces to wait or leave the vehicles. 

For arrivals, it’s the same procedure, just reversed. The passengers and crew will enter the building, clear Immigration and Customs, and enter the FBO lounge area. Then they can exit the building to their awaiting vehicle. It takes about 15 minutes, from start to finish, to be processed. 

When it comes to fuel, the GA ramp is serviced only by trucks, and it was noted that there were little, if any, delays. The commercial ramps are serviced by hydrants. 

As for maintenance, if any needs arise, GDC Solutions is onsite and can provide support.

Finally, it is important to note that all the airport signage is in Spanish, with no English translations.

Airport Location

Distance to/from downtown Santo Domingo: 20 miles/32 Kms

Time to/from downtown Santo Domingo: Usually 40 minutes. However, traffic can be extremely heavy during peak hours, causing the drive to be 1.5 hours.

General Aviation Area Description

Approx. number of aircraft accommodated: Five (5) parking stands on the main GA ramp, while there is room to park several other aircraft around the airport.

Number of GA ground handlers: 3

Handler Notes: SAMSIC processes all on-ramp handling. GA ground handler employees can transport crew and passengers to the FBO building but do not handle the aircraft otherwise.

Ramp controlled by Airport, GAT, or FBOs: Airport

Distance between GA area and main terminal: Approx 165m (540 feet)

GA permits and slot required: Charter landing permit

Notice required for permits and slots: Minimum 48 hours for permits

Notes for GA parking: The ramp assigned to GA is large and can accommodate several aircraft outside of the five main spots. Full privacy is guaranteed. SAMSIC and the airport administration control the parking spots. There is a mix of both autonomous and non-autonomous spots. It is rarely known what type of position will be assigned before landing. Also, there are no hangar options.

FBO building: The FBO building is shared by Servair (on the right) and Before Handling (on the left). Upon entering the building, there is a reception desk and a comfortable lounge area that can accommodate several customers at a time. There is also a closed crew lounge, with amenities like WIFI, TV, coffee, complimentary beverages, pastries, a computer for flight planning, a printer, and a meeting table. There is no additional quiet, or rest area.

Commercial Area Description

Approx. number of aircraft accommodated: 10 (ten) parking stands

Types of commercial traffic using the airport: Airlines

Commercial permit and slots required: Landing permit

Notice period for commercial slots and permits: 7 days for landing permits

Notes for commercial parking: Full equipment for the commercial airlines is available

Customs and Immigration

Customs and Immigration are cleared in the FBO building.

Ground Transportation

Both Servair and Cariports have vehicles to transport passengers and crew. However, they normally use local third parties to do so.

Catering

There is only one designated catering company at the airport, JJ Roca. They board food directly to the aircraft.

Security

Security Level: 3

President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRD) began his presidency on 16 August 2020 after defeating Ganzalo Castillo of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) in the 2020 general election by a margin of 52.52% of total votes to 37.46%. Along with strengthening the country's strategic relationship with the U.S., modernizing the Dominican Republic's energy infrastructure has been at the center of the Abinader administration's objectives. High levels of corruption at all levels of government, law enforcement, and business continue to persist throughout the country. Petty theft and violent crime are the primary security concerns in the Dominican Republic. Strikes and demonstrations can disrupt transit and other services. Corruption is pervasive and the country serves as a major hub for drug smuggling; cartels involved in drug trafficking actively operate in the Dominican Republic. Due to its geographical location in the center of the Antillean archipelago, the Dominican Republic is vulnerable to weather-related natural disasters, such as tropical storms and hurricanes, and resulting floods and landslides.

*This information is provided by United Healthcare Global Risk

Handler Information

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• Servair Santo Domingo
• Cariports
• Before Boarding
• SAMSIC