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DP World and the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone have launched a new international air freight service to Europe, aimed at strengthening the Dominican Republic’s role as a logistics and transit hub for the Americas. The service will be operated through the Punta Cana Air Freight Center in the eastern part of the country.
New Air Freight Service Strengthens Trade Connections
The new service, which operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays, is designed to transport transit freight from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean to Europe via the Punta Cana Air Freight Center. In the initial phase, the center is expected to handle up to 120 tons of air freight monthly, which is intended to improve speed and reliability for regional exporters.
The expanded service supports the transport of valuable and time-sensitive goods, including perishable items such as flowers and fruits, pharmaceuticals, packages, and dry cargo. Shipments from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru will be consolidated in Punta Cana and connected to key European markets such as Madrid, Frankfurt, and London through frequent scheduled flights. Partners are also exploring the possibility of expanding the service to Canada as demand continues to rise.
Infrastructure for Time-Sensitive Cargo
The Punta Cana Air Freight Center is specifically designed to handle temperature-sensitive cargo and offers approximately 4,000 square meters of cold storage designated for perishable goods. Additionally, processes for transit freight have been optimized to reduce transfer times. Direct ramp access for cargo and passenger aircraft, as well as enhanced security services and specialized handling equipment for various types of cargo, are also part of the infrastructure.
The new service builds on the arrival of the first cargo aircraft in 2024, which validated the terminal’s infrastructure and operational model and laid the foundation for sustainable growth in international air freight traffic. By 2025, the air freight terminal is expected to have handled over 33,000 tons of imports, exports, and transit freight, representing a 15% increase compared to 2024.
Manuel Martínez, CEO of DP World in the Dominican Republic, stated: “This expansion reinforces our shared vision with the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone to position Punta Cana as a key regional connection point within global trade networks. By increasing the capacity and predictability of the service, we provide exporters and logistics providers with faster and more reliable access to international markets, enhancing the region’s competitiveness.”
