President Leonel Fernández instructed the governor of the Las Americas International Airport, Arístides Fernández Zucco to find a definite solution to the runway lights system problem that on Saturday and Monday affected evening flights at Las Americas. The problem was said to be brought about by a lightning discharge that caused a series of short circuits. The airport had to redirect incoming evening flights to Puerto Plata and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The government is considering the installation of electrical cabling that uses new technology to avoid a repetition of the power failure. It is unclear whether President Fernández has ordered that the Dominican government make the needed investment now. A consortium of Canadian, US, Italian and Dominican companies recently won the bid to operate the Las Americas International Airport, and would be responsible for the investment as part of an overhaul the airport will be subject to. Nevertheless, the privatization contract needs to be approved by Congress, which has not yet done so.
