France’s Vinci Airports has inaugurated a €14m freight terminal at Las Américas, the international airport serving Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic.
Work on the new terminal was carried out by Vinci Construction Grands Projets and is part of a modernisation and optimisation plan that Vinci began rolling out in 2016, when it took over the country’s airport concessions. It is hoped that the project will support momentum and help promote the Dominican Republic’s economy and tourism sector.
The terminal, which will be occupied by FedEx, is expected to help facilitate development of Dominican exports. The new 6,800m2 warehouse has been designed to bring together all organisations involved in the airport’s freight transport chain. A commercial building contains restaurants, banking services, offices, counters for customs officers and administrative facilities.
The new terminal’s design is environmentally friendly: it optimises energy and water consumption, and 100% of waste will be reused or recycled. For its power supply, it will use the photovoltaic panels that Vinci Airports installed in 2019, which cover about 20% of the airport’s energy requirements.
The inauguration ceremony also marked the launch of a new investment phase for Santo Domingo’s airport. This will involve extending the atrium in the passenger terminal, as well as modernising the immigration and security departments’ premises.
Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of Vinci Concessions and chairman of Vinci Airports, said: “Rapid and reliable aviation capabilities are critical for export-led economies. Vinci Airports is proud to continue its partnership with the Dominican Republic with this new freight terminal serving the capital. It will create a new commercial hub for the Caribbean.”
