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BiggerDP World Dominicana and Punta Cana Free Trade Zone received the first cargo flight
Punta Cana.- DP World Dominicana and Punta Cana Free Trade Zone, a company of the Puntacana Group, have initiated the air operations of the Air Cargo Hub Punta Cana, a multimodal platform for handling air, land, and sea cargo. This milestone was marked by the arrival of the first cargo flight, an Air Canada Cargo Boeing 767F, capable of transporting approximately 50 tons of fruits, vegetables, and medical devices. The flight will operate the Toronto – Mexico – Ecuador – Punta Cana route weekly.
In 2022, DP World and the Puntacana Group formed a strategic alliance to develop this logistics center. The partnership leverages DP World’s extensive logistics expertise and Punta Cana Airport’s high connectivity, showcasing the leadership of both entities in their respective sectors.
Initially, the hub received cargo via land transportation from across the country, which was then shipped by air through Punta Cana Airport (PUJ). Currently, 60-70% of the cargo consists of perishable goods like fruits and vegetables. The center also handles machinery, automotive equipment, seafood, and other merchandise, with plans to expand into the pharmaceutical, technology, and e-commerce sectors.
Manuel Martínez, CEO of DP World Dominicana, emphasized the significance of this development in enhancing the country’s competitiveness and connectivity, aligning with the state’s goal of becoming the foremost logistics hub in the Americas. He highlighted that the hub offers cost-effective solutions for clients shipping cargo from Latin America to North America, Europe, and the Middle East, thanks to its proximity to the Punta Cana Airport cargo terminal and the extensive capacity of its logistics facilities.
Frank Elías Rainieri, President and CEO of Grupo Puntacana, remarked that this achievement is a crucial milestone for the logistics center, reinforcing the strategic alliance with DP World Dominicana and Air Canada Cargo to advance the economic and social progress of the Dominican Republic.
About Punta Cana Free Trade Zone (PCFTZ):
With an investment of approximately USD $200 million, the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone will host cargo logistics operations and offices dedicated to the development of the Punta Cana Hub, focusing on innovation and Fintech companies. It will also include a company specializing in aircraft maintenance and repair (MRO). The project is expected to significantly boost the local economy, creating over 10,000 jobs and positioning Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic as leaders in international trade and foreign investment.
The PCFTZ will feature a 546,617.45 m² construction site with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and warehouses for the logistics center and air cargo terminal operations. This infrastructure will facilitate import, export, and transshipment cargo for local and regional distribution.
The air cargo terminal will span up to 75,000 m², with a total area of 265,518 m². It will include an internal refrigerated warehouse covering up to 4,360 m².
About DP World:
DP World plays a vital role in the global economy, enhancing trade flow and improving quality of life worldwide. With a dedicated team of over 103,000 employees across 75 countries on six continents, DP World is driving commerce towards a seamless, future-ready supply chain.
The company is rapidly transforming and integrating its operations—Ports and Terminals, Maritime Services, Logistics, and Technology—to create more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions. DP World aims to revolutionize global commerce, making it flow better and changing what is possible for customers and communities worldwide.
This new air cargo hub will benefit the economy of the area and the country as a whole. A benefit for the area may be lowering the prices of commodities. Punta Cana has the highest cost of goods in the country. A reason is transportation costs of goods that are brought in from Santo Domingo and other far parts of country are added to an already high purchase price. Trucks returning from the tourist zone empty are not making revenue. The carriers compensate return empty losses by increasing rates to Punta Cana. Now, the new cargo center can help reduce costs because carriers have the opportunity making revenue when departing Punta Cana with a load. Grocery chains making deliveries in Punta Cana could return to origin not empty, but with loads from the hub. Cost savings could be passed on to the consumers. Everyone wins.