Grupo PUNTACANA to Inaugurate New Runway and Air Traffic Control Tower at Punta Cana International Airport on November 25th

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Punta Cana International Airport (http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/), the leading destination for travel in the Dominican Republic, will be inaugurating a new runway and Air Traffic Control tower with a ceremony on November 25th. The new facilities were built to support the robust growth of travel to the region and will increase aircraft capacity, streamline operations, and enhance Air Traffic Control operations at the country's busiest and fastest-growing airport.

The development of the runway and tower at the Punta Cana International Airport, which is the very first privately built, owned and operated international airport in the world, is an investment that is solely funded by Grupo PUNTACANA.

"Punta Cana is a premier destination for tourism worldwide," said Frank Rainieri, President and CEO of Grupo PUNTACANA. "This investment in Punta Cana International Airport reflects our continuing commitment to welcome tourists from all over the world by providing the highest level of customer service, efficiency, and safety."

Punta Cana is the leading and fastest growing port of entry in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean. The new runway supports the growing demand for direct flights from major international cities such as New York, Chicago, Miami, Paris, London, Moscow, and Sao Paolo.

Traffic to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) has steadily grown since its opening in 1984.  The airport has enabled the rapid rate growth of tourism in the country. Currently, there are more than 4.5 million annual passenger movements in more than 15,000 commercial aircraft operations. The airport is on track for over 10% growth this year. 

The new Runway 08-26 is 10,171 feet long and 150 feet wide. The new control tower is equipped with the most modern radio and air traffic control equipment in the Caribbean.  A new Terminal Approach Radar Control (TRACON) facility and a new Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) have also been built. This new facility also provides a back-up to the National Radar System located in Santo Domingo.

Punta Cana International Airport is owned and operated by Grupo PUNTACANA, which was founded in 1969 with the vision of a resort that protects and embodies the essence of the Dominican Republic's rich culture and scenery. The resulting world-class eco-chic luxury property, PUNTACANA Resort & Club, includes two hotels, golf courses, restaurants, lounges, yachting facilities, private estates, the international airport and ecological reserve.

ABOUT GRUPO PUNTACANA
The development of Grupo PUNTACANA dates back to 1969, when Dominican businessman and hotelier Frank R. Rainieri and the late Theodore W. Kheel, the prominent New York attorney and labor mediator, created a partnership to construct a resort and real estate community that respects the natural habitat of Punta Cana while offering a world-class vacation experience. Maintaining a dedication to sustainable tourism, PUNTACANA Resort & Club has since grown to encompass over 26 square miles and now includes Tortuga Bay; Six Senses Spa; the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation; four residential communities (Corales, Hacienda, Marina and Arrecife); a full-service marina; nine restaurants; a shopping village; two 18-hole golf courses; and Punta Cana International Airport, a modern facility that incorporates innovative and eco-friendly design. In 1997, Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta joined the Group as co-investors and have made PUNTACANA Resort & Club their home. Currently, Punta Cana is the most highly visited Caribbean destination and is easily accessible from all over the globe. For more information, please visit www.puntacana.com.

SOURCE Grupo PUNTACANA