Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) has officially cemented its position as the premier aviation gateway in the Caribbean and Central America, closing 2025 with a historic milestone of over 11 million passengers. This record-breaking performance underscores the airport’s role as the primary engine for tourism in the Dominican Republic and a dominant force in air travel in the Americas.
The year-end data reveals a transformative year for the terminal, which saw total air operations surge to 35,092 flights—a remarkable 15.6% increase compared to 2024. Overall passenger traffic grew by 9.9%, driven by an aggressive strategy of infrastructure expansion and global connectivity.
The airport’s ascent was most visible during a high-octane December. The terminal recorded an 11.5% year-on-year increase in passenger flow, jumping from 975,450 travelers in 2024 to 1,087,621 in the final month of 2025.
Operational capacity reached unprecedented levels during the peak season, shattering weekly records for three consecutive weeks with 812, 896, and finally peaking at 900 weekly flights. This surge was supported by a 12.8% increase in monthly flight operations, totaling 3,453 flights in December alone.
Strategic growth and infrastructure
Aviation analysts point to a multifaceted strategy for this success. The airport expanded its global footprint by launching new routes to key markets including France, Mexico, the United States, Colombia, and the Eastern Caribbean.
Beyond flight volume, the airport is evolving into a multifaceted logistics hub. 2025 saw the inauguration of the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone (PCFTZ), the region’s first logistics park operating directly within an airport. Infrastructure improvements, such as the expansion of the Terminal B parking facilities, have also been vital in managing the increased traffic.
Since its inauguration in 1983 as the world’s first private international commercial airport, PUJ has grown to connect 81 international airports across 26 countries. With two runways, 41 boarding gates, and 45 aircraft parking positions, it remains the most connected airport in the Caribbean.
The Punta Cana International Airport is the country’s main gateway for visiting tourists. Because of its numerous air connections, many tourists will arrive on direct flights and then continue by land to other destinations in the country.
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Diario Libre
El Dia
13 January 2026