Punta Cana International Airport is a privately owned commercial airport in Punta Cana in the eastern Dominican Republic. The airport is built with open-air terminals and roofs covered with palm fronds. Designed by architect Oscar Imbert, the airport was built by Grupo Punta Cana and opened in December 1983. It is owned by Grupo Punta Cana and was the world’s first privately owned international airport.
It is the busiest airport in the Dominican Republic and the second busiest in the Caribbean, behind Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. The airport handles 60% of all airline arrivals in the Dominican Republic and the port serves 90 airports in 26 countries. The airport handles almost all private jet flights to the region.
Dominican private jet charter prices
Although Punta Cana Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Punta Cana are as follows.
| Heavy Jet | 116.900 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 134.900 EUR |
| VIP Airliner | 199.100 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
Punta Cana Airport history from past to present
The history of aviation in Punta Cana began in 1971 when Grupo Puntacana built the first hotel in the area, the “Punta Cana Club”, and 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, more and more people were starting to go to Punta Cana for vacations and more and more small cabins were being built. With no roads or ports, the only way to get to Punta Cana was by air.
In the late 1970s a road was built connecting the area to Higüey, the capital of La Altagracia Province. Tourists from various countries started arriving. They had to pass through Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, then take a short flight to Punta Cana in a small plane. The airstrip had major problems, such as having a very short runway and still not having a terminal. This meant that passengers had to get off the plane and be directed to a road to be picked up to go to their hotel, which was inconvenient. Grupo PuntaCana knew it needed a real airport.
In late 1974, Grupo Puntacana began planning its first private international airport. But the local government did not approve the new airport. After eight years of discussions with the province, a contract was awarded to start construction of the new airport. The airport was to be built on the site of the old airstrip. In early 1981, planning for the airport began. Construction of the new airport began in early 1982 and the small airstrip had to be closed. To compensate for the loss, a small concrete runway was made into a temporary airfield. This runway was to become a runway when the airport opened. Since the terminal was small and did not require much construction, it was completed in less than four months and the airport was operational on December 17, 1983.
The airport entered service with a 1,500 meter runway that could accommodate larger propeller-driven aircraft. The building had an area of 300 square meters and could handle 150 passengers every one and a half hours. The small control tower also became operational in the same year. In January 1984, Punta Cana made its first international flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, operated by the Puerto Rican airline Prinair. The aircraft was a small twin-turbo propeller aircraft with a capacity of 20 passengers. In 1984, the airport welcomed 2,976 passengers. The airport was expanded in 1986 as a result of increased demand and jetliner flights, and hotels were built to accommodate travelers from the surrounding areas. The second expansion took place in 1988 with the addition of a new taxiway. In 1989, the first private jets began flying to the airport. Towards the end of 1989, another expansion was launched to extend the runway by 3,100 meters. This expansion was completed in late 1990.
The 1990s brought a major change to the airport. Now that the runway was 3,100 meters, long-haul jets could fly here. Monarch Airlines and Air Belgium were the first airlines to operate charter flights to Punta Cana in 1990 and 1991 respectively. The rapid growth in the airport’s route network was too much for the small airport. As passenger numbers increased, Grupo PuntaCana planned a major expansion starting in 1999. In 2000, after the completion of the expansion, the terminal was renovated and expanded to 600 square meters, doubling its original size. By 2003, the terminal underwent a minor expansion and the runway was widened to allow for the parking of seven aircraft. This was also the year that Grupo Puntacana started planning for a second runway. In 2004, Terminal 2, the second terminal at the airport, opened.
In 2011, a new second runway was inaugurated, allowing longer-haul flights from countries such as France, the UK and Brazil with large aircraft such as the Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777 and Airbus A340. With this expansion, the airport is the first in the Caribbean to have two runways longer than 3100 meters. In addition to the new runway, a new control tower, Terminal Approach Radar Control facility and a new Automatic Weather Observation Station (AWOS) were also commissioned.
In November 2014, Terminal B was officially opened. It is the first terminal at the airport to use jet bridges. The new terminal is also completely enclosed, unlike any other terminal at the airport. In November 2017, a new VIP lounge with a pool was opened.
List of things to see in Punta Cana
Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is a tropical paradise for tourists, famous for its white sandy beaches, turquoise sea and stunning natural beauty. Vacationers can take part in many activities in Punta Cana. First of all, the beaches in the area are one of the most popular attractions in Punta Cana. Bavaro Beach is famous for its turquoise sea, white sandy beach and palm trees. Other beaches such as Macao Beach, El Cortecito Beach and Juanillo Beach also attract visitors with their tranquil atmosphere and spectacular views.
Another popular activity to do in Punta Cana is diving. You can enjoy the tropical marine life by diving in waters famous for their coral reefs and colorful fish. There are also other amusement parks such as Manati Park. Here, you can swim with dolphins, feed crocodiles and meet the beautiful colors of tropical birds.
Finally, in Punta Cana, there are also many opportunities to explore historical sites and cultural attractions. Places like Altos de Chavon, built in the style of ancient Roman architecture, are located near the city of Santo Domingo. Other attractions in the area include Higüey Cathedral, Saona Island and Cap Cana marina. Punta Cana offers visitors a combination of beautiful beaches, water sports, natural beauty and cultural experiences. It is therefore a great place to explore this tropical paradise.
Transportation from Punta Cana Airport to the city center and hotels
There are no alternatives other than taxi and car rental for transportation from Punta Cana airport to the city center. Since the airport is close to the city center, there is no public transportation service.
The airport is close to many hotels and resorts and many of them offer airport transfer services. This service is usually arranged in advance and offers an option to travel in a private vehicle.
Taxi is also a popular option to get from the airport to the hotels. Taxi drivers can be found in front of the airport. Taxis do not have fixed fares and it is necessary to negotiate before the trip.
Another option for transportation in Punta Cana is car rental. There are many car rental companies near the airport and tourists are free to rent a car and explore the area. However, driving rules vary in the Dominican Republic, so it is important to do some research before renting a car.
