Maria Montez Airport to become key economic hub in Southwest

Barahona, DR.– The María Montez International Airport in Barahona will become an important hub for tourism and economic development in the Southwest region with new initiatives promoted by the Dominican Government, which include the expansion and remodeling of the terminal to operate as an air bridge in the initial phase of the tourist launch of Pedernales and as an aeronautical maintenance center for the Boeing company.

Participating as an exhibitor in the first edition of the Expo Turismo y Atracciones “Por Amor a Barahona” event, journalist Luis José Chávez stated that after 28 years of its inauguration, the María Montez International Airport will cease to be a “white elephant” –not reaching its potential– and will operate as an aeronautical complex with a strong economic impact throughout the region.

Chávez, who represented the general director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), Héctor Porcella, said that the administration of President Luis Abinader has reached an agreement with Aeropuertos Dominicanos (AERODOM) to adapt the airport terminal to operate as an air bridge with Pedernales to receive tourists who will be arriving at the new hotel projects in Cabo Rojo in the coming months.

“The Government and AERODOM expect that, during the construction phase of the Cabo Rojo International Airport, which will take 3 to 4 years, the María Montez Airport will be able to receive tourists on international charter flights to be transferred in comfortable buses to the new destination of Pedernales, a journey that should be a pleasant experience due to the multiple attractions offered by the South Coast,” said Chávez.

He indicated that an authorized source from AERODOM has confirmed that work has already begun on improving the María Montez Airport so that the first flights with international tourists for the Cabo Rojo hotels can be received by the end of the year.

He estimated that with these operations, a dynamism will begin that will allow the creation of regular routes for the Barahona destination itself, as the new tourist projects and public and private investments for the so-called Pearl of the South are developed.

“Regarding the tourist offer of Barahona, we should expect that sooner rather than later the paralyzed hotel and real estate development project Perla del Sur will be rechanneled, which in addition to expanding the availability of rooms in the area, according to the original proposal, would also include a marina with 42 docks for yachts, boats and boats of various sizes, as well as a convention center,” commented Chávez.

Boeing maintenance center

After pointing out that the project for the new air base that will be part of the Southern Command of the Dominican Air Force (FARD), next to the María Montez airport, formally started by President Abinader in September 2023, is already advancing, he said that the third important aviation project in the same complex will be the installation of an aeronautical maintenance center for Boeing, which contemplates an investment of 200 million dollars in its first ten years.

The investment, managed by the local firm FTS Holding Group, will generate between 1,500 and 2,000 direct jobs in its initial stage, although the number will continue to grow according to its managers, said the IDAC Public Relations Director and past president of the Dominican Association of Tourism Press.

Chávez also referred to the start of construction of the Granero del Sur airfield in San Juan de la Maguana, which, in his opinion, will also contribute to strengthening the tourism and productive potential of the Southern region.