Summary
Civil aviation in the Dominican Republic is going through one of the most dynamic and demanding stages in its recent history, driven by sustained tourism growth, the rise in air operations, and the need to maintain high operational safety standards.
Civil aviation in the Dominican Republic is going through one of the most dynamic and demanding stages in its recent history, driven by sustained tourism growth, the rise in air operations, and the need to maintain high operational safety standards.
This was stated yesterday by the Director General of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Igor Rodríguez, as he detailed the institution’s challenges, plans, and projections in a context of accelerated expansion in the aeronautical sector.
Rodríguez explained that IDAC acts not only as a regulatory body but also as a promoter of Dominican civil aviation development—a dual role that requires ongoing, technical, and strategic management. He noted that this is a continuous process with no endpoint, due to the very nature of the aviation sector, characterized by dynamism, high specialization, and constant technological evolution.
In the Special Interview with El Caribe and CDN, he indicated that the scale of the moment Dominican civil aviation is experiencing is clearly reflected in the country’s economic and tourism indicators. He pointed out that data from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) and the Ministry of Tourism show a historic record of 11.7 million tourists received last year—an unprecedented volume that has placed the country before a large-scale operational and regulatory challenge.
This tourism growth had a direct impact on the aeronautical sector. Specifically, the volume of operations recorded in 2024, according to IDAC statistics, was 212,023, while in 2025 it rose to 217,620. In 2024, 19,078,752 passengers were transported, and the following year 19,676,193 passengers. Passenger traffic increased by 3.04% year over year, and the number of operations grew by 2.57%.
Igor Rodríguez addressed each topic directly and did not avoid any question raised. He made it clear that although the figures are positive news for the economy, they also represent significant pressure on the regulatory body responsible for ensuring that every operation is carried out under international standards of safety, efficiency, and order.
The IDAC director stated that the increase in operations requires constant strengthening of human capital and technological infrastructure. He noted that civil aviation demands highly qualified personnel—including air traffic controllers and many other specialists in sensitive areas of aeronautical activity—trained and certified to respond to complex and high-risk scenarios. This implies ongoing investment in training, systems, equipment, and future planning. According to him, this is precisely what IDAC has been doing: putting every necessary element in place to avoid disruptions and surprises.
Igor Rodríguez, originally from the Cibao region (born in Puerto Plata, a province also known as “The Bride of the Atlantic”), is a Systems and Computer Engineering graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), with master’s degrees in Business Administration, Software Engineering, and Logistics Management, in addition to being a private pilot.
He speaks with authority on the subjects under his responsibility and emphasizes that IDAC’s institutional vision is aimed at consolidating an increasingly safe, competitive civil aviation system aligned with international standards, as a foundation for economic development and investment attraction in the Dominican Republic.
He recalled that modern civil aviation is structured around the Chicago Convention, signed 80 years ago, which establishes 19 annexes regulating different aspects of the sector.
Of these 19 annexes, IDAC has direct responsibility for 16, related to technical regulation, air navigation, flight standards, and operational safety oversight. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) administers the Facilitation Annex, which covers permits, air connectivity, and the regulation of route and air service authorizations.
Rodríguez, who attended the meeting well-prepared and accompanied by Paola Aimée Plá Puello, Deputy Director of IDAC, and Claudio Martínez, Head of Communications, explained that other annexes are handled by specialized entities such as the Specialized Corps for Airport and Civil Aviation Security, responsible for airport security, and the Accident Investigation Commission, in charge of air incidents and accidents.
IDAC is part of JAC’s membership, ensuring ongoing institutional coordination in strategic decision-making for the sector.
In response to questions about the Open Skies Agreement with the United States in effect since 2024, the official noted that this milestone was made possible following an audit conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which reaffirmed the Dominican Republic’s Category 1 operational safety rating. He explained that this international certification allowed the country to resume a process that had been under discussion for more than 25 years and that was finalized after meeting U.S. authority standards.
The agreement establishes equal conditions for Dominican and U.S. airlines to operate in both territories, expanding opportunities for connectivity, competition, and market growth. However, he acknowledged that challenges remain, especially in terms of infrastructure and financial capacity when facing major international operators with fleets of thousands of aircraft.
Rodríguez highlighted that, despite these asymmetries, Dominican airlines have made significant efforts to compete in the international market, investing in new aircraft, technology, and qualified personnel. He added that these advances have been possible thanks to the FAA’s IASA certification and the regulatory framework provided by the Open Skies Agreement.
North America and the Middle East
Regarding regional positioning, he stated that the Dominican Republic has consolidated itself as a leading logistical and air hub in the Caribbean and Central America due to its strategic geographic location. The country lies at a natural convergence point between North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, facilitating passenger and cargo flight connectivity and operations. This potential has attracted interest from international cargo operators, including airlines from regions as distant as the Middle East. He mentioned discussions with companies such as Emirates Cargo, which are evaluating establishing operations in the Dominican Republic to use it as a regional logistics hub.
Rodríguez recalled that President Luis Abinader has actively promoted the vision of the country as a regional hub, highlighting in international forums the Dominican Republic’s competitive advantages, stability, connectivity, and growth capacity. He stated that one of the main strengths presented to international markets is the operational safety of Dominican airspace.
He emphasized that operational safety is the central axis of all civil aviation policy. He reported that IDAC presented its State Safety Program 2025–2028, which establishes guidelines, responsibilities, and clear goals to maintain and improve safety standards in national airspace. He added that the institution strengthened its internal structure, elevating operational safety to a formal directorate that works in coordination with the Air Navigation Directorate, the Operational Safety Oversight Directorate, and the Flight Standards Directorate.
This organizational redesign responds to the need for more robust and specialized management.
Rodríguez noted that these actions are complemented by significant investments in technological equipment. He detailed the installation of Doppler weather radars, essential for climate information management, with one in operation since 2022, a second installed in Puerto Plata in May of last year, and a third radar in the final phase of implementation.
Radar Installations, Including Santiago
The IDAC director explained that system triangulation will allow not only efficient coverage of Dominican airspace but also the sharing of meteorological information with neighboring countries as part of regional cooperation agreements. This is in addition to the expansion of the network of primary and secondary radars for air navigation.
Among these projects, he highlighted the installation of a primary and secondary radar in Santiago, which will join those already operating at Las Américas International Airport (in Santo Domingo), Punta Cana (in the eastern part of the country), and Puerto Plata in the northern or Cibao region.
All air navigation equipment for the new Pedernales airport is currently being procured, including the control tower, communication systems, VOR, local weather station, and primary and secondary radars.
