President Abinader announces renegotiation of contract with Aerodom

In order to make this renegotiation of the concession possible, the Executive Branch said that it will submit to the National Congress the project for the renewal of this contract for the approval and sanction of the deputies and senators.

President Luis Abinader announced yesterday the renegotiation of the concession of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) to the company VINCI Airports, with the novelty that the Dominican State will be remunerated for the operation rights, investments will be made in the improvement of the airport infrastructure and the contract will be extended for 30 more years.

In 1999, the Dominican Government granted the administration and operation of six airports that make up Aerodom. Before the term of the contract expired (2030), the Executive Branch, headed by Abinader, said it decided to renegotiate the terms to guarantee greater benefits to the country, which had been lacking.

The president said that this renegotiation represents a benefit for the Dominican Republic of between 1,905 million and 2,155 million dollars.

Remuneration to the State

Of this amount, the concessionaire company will advance the country 775 million dollars over a period of six months as an initial payment for the right to operate for the extended term of the concession to the year 2060, which, Abinader said, will be invested in public works for the benefit of Dominicans. The funds will be used to develop an extensive asphalting program in Greater Santo Domingo and other municipalities, as well as road solutions in very busy avenues. In addition, these funds will be used to build the San Cristóbal Traumatology Unit, the Villa Mella bridge and sports facilities.

Infrastructure improvements
In addition, VINCI Airports will have to invest US$830 million for improvements in the six airports under concession, including that of Las Américas -José Francisco Peña Gómez- and other variable contributions estimated at between US$300 million and US$550 million.

Immediately, and due to the growing flow of passengers at Las Americas airport, the concessionaire will invest US$16 million to improve, within 12 to 18 months, the airport’s existing terminal.

Construction of new terminal at the AILA

In addition, the concessionaire announced that it will work on the design that will allow the construction of a new terminal at the AILA to begin in 2025, which will have a capacity of four million passengers per year. This project will have an investment of US$250 million.

“The extraordinary performance of tourism and the development of the country as a commercial center, which have motivated a double-digit growth in passenger traffic, makes the construction of a new additional terminal at the José Francisco Peña Gómez Las Américas International Airport,” whose forecasts indicate that it will reach 8.4 million passengers in 2030, surpassing its current capacity of approximately 6.5 million passengers, the president emphasized.

Renovation requires congressional approval

In order for this concession renegotiation to be possible, the Executive Branch said that it will deposit before the National Congress the project for the renewal of this contract for the approval and sanction of the deputies and senators.

Even VINCI Airports has publicly expressed its interest in having this requirement fulfilled as soon as possible.

“We hope that this proposal, which represents important improvements and benefits, will soon be approved by the National Congress”, he said.

VINCI Airports thanks

Following the announcement of the renegotiation, the company VINCI Airports thanked the Government for its confidence in the extension of the contract signed during the first administration of former President Leonel Fernández (1996-2000).

“Aerodom and VINCI Airports are grateful for the trust placed by the Dominican Government in selecting VINCI Airports as the long-term operator of the six Dominican airports under its responsibility.”

These airports are the International Airport of the Americas José Francisco Peña Gómez, in Santo Domingo East; President Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, in Santo Domingo North; Gregorio Luperón, in Puerto Plata; María Montez, in Barahona and President Juan Bosch in the province of Samaná; as well as the Arroyo Barril Aerodrome, also located in Samaná.

According to Aerodom’s website, the consortium handles an annual average of five million passengers in some 76,610 aircraft movements and through its network of airports 49 airlines connect the DR with 58 cities in the world.