The Government announced last night that a Canadian-led consortium, Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI ("Aerodom"), won the bidding for a contract to operate four of the DR’s airports. In a formal ceremony convened by the Public Works Minister Diandino Pe?a but presided over by President Leonel Fern?ndez, yesterday’s rumors that Aerodom had won were formally confirmed. The contract now goes to the Congress for formal approval. The four airports involved are Las Am?ricas International (AILA) (Santo Domingo), Gregorio Luper?n (Puerto Plata-Sos?a), Mar?a Montez (Barahona) and Arroyo Barril (Saman?). The consortium promises to invest US$203 million (US$96 million in AILA, US$47 million in Gregorio Luper?n, US$55 million Arroyo Barril and US$5 million in Mar?a Montez) in a 24-month program to improve the infrastructure of all four airports to meet project traffic increases until the year 2015, and then a second round of improvements worth US$106 million (US$52 million, US$32 million, US$14 million, US$8 million, respectively) to meet needs until the year 2030. It also promises to invest US$85 million during the contract period to promote and foster tourism in the Dominican Republic. Under the terms of the concession, the government can at any time during the first 20 years demand changes in modernization plans for the airports. The consortium’s investments are guaranteed not to raise present taxes on passengers and cargo, although it is allowed to impose a special US$5 charge for the use of Arroyo Barril airport in Saman?. The Aerodom consortium includes U.S.-based Ogden Aviation Services, Canada-based Vancouver Airport Services (YVR), Italy-based Impregilio and DR-based Operaciones Aeroportuarias del Caribe (OPASA).
