Punta Cana International Airport Continues to Modernize with Auto Passport Control Implementation
Welcoming approximately 8 million passengers per year, the Punta Cana International Airport is the largest airport in the Caribbean connecting with 98 cities, 28 countries and 81 airlines. Over the past year, the airport has continued to update its offerings to meet the demands of the modern traveler by introducing Automatic Passport Controls, a Silent Policy, and Pre-Clearance, amongst other services that cater to travelers’ needs.
Debuting in the Q1 of 2020, Punta Cana International Airport will implement Auto Gates for passengers with biometric passports, including American, Canadian, Spanish, Dutch, Swiss, British and French nationalities. Already integrated for passengers departing from the Dominican Republic, this technology will now be available at arrivals gates to allow travelers to swiftly move through the passport control process in less than 10 seconds thus allowing less time in the airport and more time enjoying the destination.
“Over the years, we have continued to add and adapt the systems at the Punta Cana International Airport to make the airport experience for travelers as seamless and comfortable as possible,” says Rafael Alberto Smith, director of operations, Punta Cana International Airport. “We are continuing to enhance the time travelers’ spend in our airport with the additions of the new Auto Passport Control for all arrivals, Pre-Clearance for all direct departing flights to the US and our silent policy in our terminals.”
Additionally, the airport has begun a new silent policy that eliminates all airline announcements over loudspeakers and alternatively offers all flight information and updates on screen displays throughout the airport. The goal of this policy is to provide travelers a smoother, more enjoyable airport experience. An additional wellness benefit at Punta Cana International Airport is the “Sala de Lactancia” which recently opened as a comfortable space designed for nursing moms to step away from the hustle and bustle of the airport to breastfeed their children with privacy. These additions are a reflection of the continued efforts by the Punta Cana International Airport team to improve overall travel experiences coming in and out of the Dominican Republic.
With the new PreClearance system, U.S. immigration, customs, agriculture inspection processes and Transportation Security Agency screenings are able to occur prior to boarding a direct flight to the United States, alleviating any additional security once passengers arrive.
