Trip Report: Punta Cana International Airport in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The following is a summary of a trip report covering Aeropuerto Internacional De Punta Cana (Punta Cana International Airport) following a visit from our Global Vendor Team.

Report Details

• Visit Date: 7/17/2023
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Airport Name: Punta Cana International Airport
• ICAO Code: MDPC
• IATA Code: PUJ

Airport General Information

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Punta Cana International Airport, MDPC, is located on the eastern shore of the Dominican Republic. It is a privately owned airport surrounded by lavish, all-inclusive resorts and is among the busiest airports in the Caribbean. The airport is open 24 hours a day and has two runways (9/27 and 8/26). From west to east, there is an FBO terminal, a cargo terminal, two commercial terminals, and a VIP terminal. The VIP terminal is reserved for members only, so most GA traffic will operate through the FBO terminal.

For departures from the FBO, parking is on the left as you approach the terminal. The building is brand new and very comfortable, and about 67m (220 feet) from the furthest parking spot. The FBO has a reception area, a small VIP section with sofas, a crew lounge, and a small kitchen with complimentary food and drinks. The people who attend to this building are from AVIAM, the airport’s handler. The Immigration and Customs area is on the right as you walk towards the airside door. This is where the security arch is, too, along with a small station for the AVIAM personnel to control the flights. Immigration and Customs are not permanently stationed in the FBO, as they have their own building near the terminal. Once through the airside doors, there is normally a boarding spot in front of the FBO. In some cases, the passengers may be required to walk/ride a golf cart out to the aircraft. It depends on the traffic that day.

On arrival, clearance through the authorities and out the landside door is typically five minutes. Immigration and Customs will be on site for the crew and passengers, and since the same officers are used for processing GA flights, they understand our industry and that time is very important.

GB Energy Aviation is the exclusive fueler. They operate trucks only; there are no hydrants. While they fuel both commercial and GA aircraft, fuel delays are minimal. 

Finally, there are two maintenance companies onsite, GDC and MCL. Both primarily focus on commercial aircraft but can assist business aviation when needed.
 

Airport Location

Distance to/from downtown Punta Cana: 7 miles/11.5 Kms

Time to/from downtown Punta Cana: Usually 15 minutes. 

The distances and times to the nearby resorts vary. The furthest is approximately 18.6 miles/30 Km and 35-40 minutes away, while the closest is just 3.5 miles/5.5 Km and 10 minutes away.
 

General Aviation Area Description

Approx. number of aircraft accommodated: 50+ on the FBO ramp, 30 plus the hangar on the VIP ramp

Number of GA ground handlers: 2 (Cariports and Servair)

Handler Notes: AVIAM controls and services the ramp. GA operators need to use one of the ground handlers who will coordinate with AVIAM for the necessary services. 

Ramp controlled by Airport, GAT, or FBOs: Airport

Distance between GA area and main terminal: 2670 feet / 814m to Terminal B, 3800 feet / 1.2 Km to Terminal A

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 is large, allowing more than 50 aircraft. Parking is controlled by AVIAM. There is no hangar option at the FBO.

Commercial Area Description

Approx. number of aircraft accommodated: Terminal A: 11 gates plus 5 spots. Terminal B: 14 gates

Types of commercial traffic using the airport: Airlines and cargo

Commercial permit and slots required: Landing permit

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

Customs & Immigration

Customs and Immigration are available at the FBO Terminal.

Ground Transportation

Both Servair and Cariports have some vehicles to transport passengers and crew to the resorts, but they normally use a local company. There have been no complaints with the third parties the handlers have used.

Catering

Catering is through Caribbean Catering Services.
 

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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• Cariports
• Servair