SANTO DOMINGO- President Luis Abinader announced on Tuesday the renegotiation of the AERODOM concession contract, which will extend from 2030 to 2060, highlighting that the agreement represents a benefit for the Dominican Republic of between 1,905 and 2,155 million dollars.
"That is the difference between the negotiations carried out by our government and the previous one," said the president, who stated that the previous agreement did not generate benefits for the Dominican State and that "it did not guarantee the best conditions in airport infrastructure.".
Abinader added that an agreement was reached that, by guaranteeing greater state participation in the benefits generated by the operation of the airports, the resources will be used for the benefit of Dominicans.
He also reported that the project will be submitted to the National Congress in the coming days for its necessary legislative approval.
Airport improvements
The head of state affirmed that this money will be received through various means. One of these will be an initial payment to the State of $775 million for operating rights for the extended concession period; an investment of $830 million for improvements to the six concessioned airports, including Las Américas International Airport; and other variable contributions estimated between $300 and $550 million.
With the $775 million that will be received over a period of six months, the Government plans to carry out several projects, including paving in La Caleta, Boca Chica, the airport area, and an extensive paving program in Greater Santo Domingo and other municipalities with an approximate investment of $350 million.
Also, the construction of the expressway from Plaza de la Bandera, Isabel Aguiar (Pintura), connecting to 6 de noviembre, with an approximate investment of 148 million dollars.
Likewise, the “solution” for the section between República de Colombia and Los Próceres avenues, the expressway to Jacobo Majluta and the “road solution” between República de Colombia and Monumental, with an approximate investment of 108 million dollars.
Also included is the construction of the drawbridge that will replace the floating bridge over the Ozama River, with an investment of 50 million dollars, as well as the construction of the bridge parallel to the Jacinto Peynado, with an approximate investment of 56 million dollars.
Similarly, the president mentioned the construction of a level crossing on the Sabana Perdida – La Victoria highway with an intersection at Charles de Gaulle, with an approximate investment of 30 million dollars.
The president also mentioned the construction of the San Cristóbal Traumatology Unit for 15 million dollars, in addition to 139 small and medium-sized works in all the provinces of the country, of which 80 are sports-related, for a total of 18 million dollars.
Las Américas Airport
“The extraordinary performance of tourism and the development of the country as a commercial center, which have motivated double-digit growth in passenger traffic, make the construction of a new additional terminal at the Las Américas International Airport, José Francisco Peña Gómez, imperative,” said Abinader.
These forecasts, according to the president, indicate that it will reach 8.4 million passengers in 2030, exceeding its current capacity of approximately 6.5 million passengers.
“Given these figures, the concessionaire company will immediately invest $16 million to improve the existing airport terminal within 12 to 18 months,” read part of a statement from the presidency.
In addition, work will be done on the design that will allow the start of construction in 2025 of a new terminal that will add a capacity of 4 million passengers per year, with an investment amount of 250 million dollars.
