The Dominican Airlines Association (ADLA) and Dominican Airports 21st Century (Aerodom) contradict each other regarding the improvements that need to be made to the facilities of the La Isabela International Airport, Dr. Joaquín Balaguer (AILI-JB), also known as El Higüero.
While the airlines argue that these renewals are part of the investment commitments assumed by the concessionaire of the airport network and subsidiary of Vinci Airports, Aerodom warns that the agreement does not contemplate these changes.
According to union representatives, when Aerodom signed the contract to manage the country’s terminals, presented a investment plan and development that—in the case of Isabella— included “the runway lengthening and the infrastructure of the passenger terminal.” They argue that the current capacity limits both departures and arrivals and that this situation “has slowed the growth of the airport.”
Furthermore, they indicate that, despite preliminary consultations made by company advisors on a possible expansionthe works did not materialize. “Until now has not been done nothing,” they said.
![[object HTMLTextAreaElement]](https://resources.diariolibre.com/images/2026/02/11/30112023-aeropuerto-aeropuerto-internacional-dr-joaquin-balaguer-1-7fc902dc.jpeg "Clash between ADLA and Aerodom over investments in La Isabela")
Airlines also report operational problems. The airport maintains international flights regular and executive operations, but for months it has been facing intermittent failures in the supply of drinking water. “It is not a daily problem, but it happens relatively frequently. When it happens we last up to six hours without water,” they warn.
ADLA reported that he sent direct communications both to Aerodom like Airport Department of the Presidency of the Republic requesting attention to these deficiencies.
The dealership responds
Aerodom holds a different position.
The company states that the concession contract does not contemplate the runway extension of El Higüero and that any expansion must be supported by technical studies.
According to the dealership, a master plan prepared by international experts “did not determine the need to expand the runway.”
Luis José Lópezspokesperson for Aeropuertos Siglo XXI, indicated that at this time they are concentrating their investments in the construction of the new terminal of the Las Americas International Airport (AILA), in accordance with the agreement.
He added that, if an extension were defined in the future, the State would have to acquire the necessary land. “That aspect corresponds to its scope of competence and not to the will or action of Aerodom as a concessionaire,” he explained.
![[object HTMLTextAreaElement]](https://resources.diariolibre.com/images/2026/02/11/aeropuerto-la-isabela--tambien-conocido-como-aeropuerto-el-higuero-2-06071fd3.jpeg "Clash between ADLA and Aerodom over investments in La Isabela")
Although ADLA affirms that a change is already required, to Aerodom The numbers don’t add up.
“The current and projected operations of the AILI They do not indicate whether it is required to extend the runwaysince the capital city has the AILA that has an airfield with sufficient capacity to host all operations, and the AILA is in the process of expansion“, indicates Lopez.
He also explains that to extend the AILI-JB track, according to the contract, there must first be a growth in the number of operations that demonstrate that this is required. expansion, and second, the State must buy the land where this extension would be made so that then Aerodom run the expansion.
According Lopeznone of those situations occurred so far.
When examining the statistics of arrivals and departures of Isabella between 2018 and 2025, Free Diary identified a cumulative movement of 600,521 passengersa modest figure compared to the volume recorded by other terminals in the national airport system.
The data of the Central Bank show a irregular behaviorwith peaks of recovery after the pandemic, but with a marked low in the last two years.
The flow went from 50,838 passengers in 2018 to 75,655 in 2019; fell to 44,472 in 2020; rebounded to 88,700 in 2021; continued to rise in 2022 (103,905) and 2023 (113,632); and then fell significantly in 2024 (66,731) and 2025 (56,588).
In contrast, during that same period, the country’s main airports obtained much higher volumes: Punta Cana had 59,407,278; The Americas concentrated 34,285,688 passengers and Santiago14,785,597. The company also ensures that the AILI operates under regulatory standards and that it maintains willingness to dialogue with the sector.
“”We are in the best position to maintain a direct and constructive dialogue””Aerodom spokesperson
What the contract establishes
The review of the concession agreement mentions Isabela within the package of airports incorporated into the administration of Aerodom.
The document also establishes a program of investments of capital that covers development works, equipment, remodeling and maintenance in the different air bases, to be executed at the expense and risk of the concessionaire during the term of the contract.
The debate on La Isabela occurs in parallel with questions about alleged delays in AILA works. President Luis Abinader warned at the end of January 2026 that the Government would resort to legal proceedings if Vinci Airports does not begin the work established by contract.|Among them is the construction of a new passenger terminal, with an investment of more than US$350 million and delivery scheduled for 2028. |The agreement, renewed in November 2023 and valid until 2060, establishes that arbitration will be the only mechanism to resolve conflicts between the parties.
