Aerodom/VINCI Airports, concessionaire of the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) has announced awarding a contract to the Dominican firm Ingeniería Estrella for the total rehabilitation and maintenance of primary runway 17-35. The project calls for an investment exceeding US$20 million.
The renovation is designed to strengthen operational safety and efficiency at the terminal. According to the concessionaire, the “major construction” project includes extensive milling and repaving, the updating of “as-built” designs, and rigorous quality controls. The objective is to renew the pavement structure to ensure a minimum lifespan of 15 years under optimal operating conditions.
To prevent disruptions to airline schedules and passenger travel, Aerodom successfully transitioned operations in 2025 to taxiway “Juliet,” which currently serves as alternate runway 18-36. This secondary runway was previously conditioned to handle wide-body aircraft during the primary runway’s downtime.
The construction phase on the main runway is scheduled to last five months, spanning from April to August, with a projected return to full operations in September 2026. Once completed, the alternate runway will revert to its original function as a taxiway. Technical supervision for the project will be managed by Concremat.
Cyril Girot, director general of Aerodom/Vinci Airports, emphasized the company’s commitment to international safety standards and the use of local expertise. “We are proud to have expert and recognized Dominican companies like Ingeniería Estrella as allies in this process, bringing their experience and capacity to projects key to national development,” Girot stated.
Ingeniería Estrella, the construction division of Grupo Estrella, brings over 40 years of experience to the project. Their vertically integrated model includes design, metal structures, and concrete production, backed by international certifications.
Future expansion
The runway rehabilitation is part of a larger master plan for Las Americas International, the nation’s primary air gateway. The airport is currently undergoing an ambitious expansion program that includes:
• The construction of a new terminal with a capacity for four million additional passengers.
• An investment exceeding US$350 million.
• A completion target set for the second half of 2028.
This infrastructure growth supports the country’s record-breaking tourism momentum. In 2025, the Dominican Republic welcomed a record 11.67 million visitors (8.8 million by air and 2.8 million by sea), and Minister of Tourism David Collado has recently projected a new target of 12 million visitors by the end of 2026.
Las Americas International is the second most used Dominican airport with a record-breaking 3,021,000 arriving passengers and 3,011,154 departing passengers in 2025. The airport mainly serves passengers in the Greater Santo Domingo area.
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CDN
Listin Diario
Aerodom
Vinci Airports
15 April 2026