Pedro Sanchez, airport reporter for the Listin Diario, has emphasized the importance of remodelling the old terminal at Las Americas, which has now fallen into shameful disrepair and deterioration, all worsened by a fire in 1994. When the south terminal of the Las Americas Airport was opened, the plan was to renovate the old one shortly afterwards. Already the south terminal is falling short in terms of capacity and thus the urgent need for the remodelling of the old terminal, which would double the capacity of the airport, must begin.
Pedro Sánchez says that the work on the terminal was never started because there were two parties interested in its construction. One, a group of contractors supported by the present governor of the airport, Yaqui del Nuñez, which proposed a partial remodelling at a cost of RD$36 million.
The designer of Las Americas and its south terminal, the architect, Fred Goico, was proposing a RD$100 million total remodelling. Then, the company supported by Núñez, Constructora Aeroportuaria, came out with a plan for RD$76 million to fully remodel the terminal.
While the decision is awaited, the government has used thousands of millions to build the Barahona International Airport, expand the Puerto Plata International Airport, and recently to begin construction of the Samana International Airport. Now sectors say the project should await the appointment of the new government.