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Santo Domingo's Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) is an international airport located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. The airport is currently open and operational, serving as the second-busiest airport in the country and one of the largest in the Caribbean. With a history dating back to 1959, the airport has undergone expansions and modernizations, including the addition of new terminals and gates. It serves millions of passengers annually and offers a range of facilities for travellers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Las Américas International Airport |
| Other names | Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas, AILA, El Aeropuerto, SDQ, MDSD |
| Location | Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic |
| Operator | Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (AERODOM) |
| Year opened | 1959 |
| Official name change | 2002 |
| Official name | Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas- José Francisco Peña Gómez (AIJFPG) |
| Number of terminals | 2 |
| Number of gates | 20+ |
| Year of last expansion | 2007 |
| Expressway | Expanded and modernised |
| Expressway suspension bridge | Connects traffic into the city's Elevated Freeway and Tunnel system |
| Secondary road | Scenic route with views of the Caribbean Sea |
| Secondary road floating bridge | Connects traffic onto the Av. George Washington (el Malecón) |
| Airlines | Chicago and Southern Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, Pan American World Airways, Dominicana de Aviacion |
| Average departure delay | 30 minutes |
| Check-in recommendation | 3 hours before departure |
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What You'll Learn
Santo Domingo Airport's official name
Santo Domingo's main airport is called Las Américas International Airport, also known as Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas in Spanish, or by the acronym AILA. Its official name is Las Américas International Airport Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez, or Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas- José Francisco Peña Gómez (AIJFPG). The airport is located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) east of Santo Domingo City.
Las Américas International Airport first opened in 1959 as the official airport of Ciudad Trujillo, which was the former name of the capital of the Dominican Republic. The city's name was changed to Santo Domingo in the same year that the airport opened. The official name of the airport was changed in 2002 to include Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez.
Santo Domingo's Las Américas International Airport is the largest airport in the Dominican Republic and one of the largest in the Caribbean. It is able to support an Airbus A380 and can accommodate four Boeing 747s simultaneously. The airport is run by Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (AERODOM), a private corporation based in the Dominican Republic. It is the second-busiest airport in the country, after Punta Cana International Airport, handling 5.49 million passengers in 2023. It is also the busiest cargo hub in the Caribbean and Central America, with 355,000,000 lbs of cargo transported in 2019.
Santo Domingo's other airport, La Isabela, is much smaller and is used by smaller aircraft only.
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The airport's location
Las Américas International Airport (IATA: SDQ, ICAO: MDSD) is an international airport located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. The airport is approximately 20 km east of Santo Domingo's city centre. It is the second-busiest airport in the country, after Punta Cana International Airport, and one of the largest in the Caribbean, serving 5.49 million passengers in 2023. It is also the busiest cargo hub in the Caribbean and Central America, with 355,000,000 lbs of cargo transported in 2019.
The airport opened in 1959 as the official airport of Ciudad Trujillo, the former name of Santo Domingo. The official name of the airport was changed in 2002 to "Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas- José Francisco Peña Gómez (AIJFPG)", but it is commonly known as "Las Américas International Airport", or locally as "Las Américas Airport", "AILA", or "El Aeropuerto".
Santo Domingo International Airport offers private airport transportation on a one-way or round-trip basis. Car rentals are also available at the airport, with rates as low as $12/day for weekly rentals with unlimited mileage.
The expressway leading from Santo Domingo to the airport has recently been expanded and modernised, with two additional terminals and 20 more gates. The new expressway crosses the Ozama River via a suspension bridge, connecting to the city's Elevated Freeway and Tunnel system. A more scenic route to the airport follows the coastal shore, providing views of the Caribbean Sea and the city. This secondary road crosses the Ozama River via a floating bridge, leading to Av. George Washington (el Malecón) and into the heart of the colonial city.
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Passenger numbers
Las Américas International Airport, also known as Santo Domingo Airport, is located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. The airport is the second busiest in the country, after Punta Cana International Airport, and is one of the largest in the Caribbean.
Santo Domingo Airport has witnessed a considerable number of passengers each year. The airport generally manages thousands of outbound flights and millions of passenger departures per year. In 2023, the airport handled 5.49 million passengers. Santo Domingo's other airport, La Isabela, is much smaller and is used by smaller aircraft only.
The airport has multiple terminals, mainly for international departures, to make travelling easier. Terminals A and B offer a range of facilities, including dining options, retail stores, and lounges. The airport is also equipped with multiple security checkpoints. Passengers are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure time and have their travel documents ready to ensure a smooth departure process.
The airport has undergone modernisation and expansion projects, including the addition of two new terminals and 20 new gates. The expressway leading from Santo Domingo to the airport has also been expanded and modernised, improving access to the airport. These enhancements contribute to the airport's ability to handle a large volume of passengers and flights each year.
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Facilities available
Santo Domingo Airport, also known as Las Américas International Airport, is located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. The airport has multiple terminals, known as Terminal A and Terminal B, which mainly handle international flights and offer a range of facilities to travellers.
The facilities available at Santo Domingo Airport include dining options, retail stores, and lounges. The airport also has a VIP lounge, which offers an enhanced experience for travellers. In addition, the airport has a main terminal that does not accept cash or checks and is open daily from 2:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The airport is equipped with multiple security checkpoints, including a primary checkpoint at the terminal entrance where passengers must go through a metal detector and have their carry-on bags inspected. It is recommended that passengers arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure time and have their travel documents, such as passports and boarding passes, ready for inspection.
The airport also offers advanced features such as real-time flight tracking and the option to monitor flight status using advanced filtering options. This allows passengers to obtain specific details about their flights, such as gate and flight information, check-in and arrival times, and reservations and ticket changes.
The airport has been recently modernised, with the addition of two new terminals and 20 more gates. The new terminals are equipped with air-conditioning systems and maintenance facilities for aircraft. The expressway leading to the airport has also been expanded, providing a convenient and scenic route for travellers.
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Santo Domingo Airport's history
Santo Domingo Airport, officially known as Las Américas International Airport (IATA: SDQ, ICAO: MDSD), is located near Punta Caucedo and Boca Chica, 20 miles (32 km) east of Santo Domingo City, in the Dominican Republic. It is the country's second busiest airport after Punta Cana International Airport, and one of the largest in the Caribbean. The airport is run by Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (AERODOM), a private corporation based in the Dominican Republic.
Las Américas Airport opened in 1959 as the official airport of Ciudad Trujillo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, with the city subsequently changing its name to Santo Domingo. In April 1953, Chicago and Southern Air Lines, a U.S.-based air carrier, was operating a weekly Lockheed Constellation service into Ciudad Trujillo. By 1954, Delta Air Lines (then known as "Delta C&S") was serving the Dominican Republic after its acquisition and merger with Chicago and Southern Air Lines. During the mid-1950s, U.S.-based Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was serving Ciudad Trujillo with nonstop flights to New York City, Miami, and Port-au-Prince.
In 1960, locally based Dominicana de Aviacion, the former flag carrier of the Dominican Republic, was operating scheduled international passenger service nonstop between the airport and Miami with Douglas DC-4 four-engine propliners. They also operated nonstop between the airport and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with Douglas DC-3 and Curtiss C-46 twin-prop aircraft.
The official name of the airport was changed in 2002 to "Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas- José Francisco Peña Gómez (AIJFPG)", but it is known locally as "Las Américas Airport", "AILA", or "El Aeropuerto". The airport has since been expanded and modernised, with two additional terminals and 20 more gates. A new terminal was completed on April 18, 2007, which can accommodate four Boeing 747s simultaneously and has four gates with boarding bridges, an air-conditioning system, and maintenance facilities for aircraft.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport opened in 1959 as the official airport of Ciudad Trujillo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.
The official name of the airport is "Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas- José Francisco Peña Gómez (AIJFPG)".
Although there can be flight delays, the average departing flight delay at the airport is 30 minutes.
The airport has two terminals, mainly for international departures.
The airport is located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic.
