El Siglo newspaper reports that construction is fast advancing on the construction of La Isabela Airport in the north of Santo Domingo, near Villa Mella. The airport is being built at a cost of RD$200-RD$250 million and will replace the Herrera Airport that is centrally located in Santo Domingo. The Isabela Airport will have a runway of 1,650 meters. While it is primarily built to service domestic flights, it is being prepared for international flights. The construction of the airport in Higuero met with the opposition of the domestic airliners, who felt it was too far away from the city and that they would lose business, and tourism industry spokespersons. Furthermore, the large investment in the airport is going up at a time when the government has just privatized four of the nation’s international airports, including those in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata. It has been said that the lands where the Herrera Airport are located have been sold by the government for the construction of a mega shopping center by the Corripio group and to the group that owns the El Siglo newspaper. The newspaper’s plant and offices is located next door to the Herrera airport.
