SANTO DOMINGO.- After sevreal weeks of unconfirmed reports the company Advent International yesterday announced it acquired 100% of the shares of Dominican airports manager Aerodom from the Hazoury Group, Vancouver Airport Services and to other local investors.
The negotiations, although begun around two years, started in earnest two months ago.
Neither Advent nor the Hazoury Group specified the transaction’s figure, but the publication Latin Finance indicated on August 29 that Advent International’s Mexican branch handled the negotiations with Aerodom, with an estimated cost of 350 million dollars.
Luis Solórzano, Advent International director in Mexico, said Aerodom is a market leader in one of the most active Caribbean destinations, in numbers as well as growth of tourist, ethnic and business arrivals.
He said the investment, "allows us to take advantage of our experience in the airport sector to contribute to the creation value in Aerodom. For example, we see an- important potential to increase the percentage from income in the business of sales of duty-free ang food and drink, by optimizing the space in the terminal, in accordance with and as we have done in other airport investments."
Since 1999 Aerodom manages the airports Las Americas, La Isabela, (Santo Domingo), Gregorio Luperón (Puerto Plata), Arroyo Barril, and El Catey (Samana) and Maria Montez (Barahona), through a 25-year government contract, a period extended five more years in 2002.
According to law
Dominican Civil Aviation Institute director Jose Tomas Perez said yesterday that although they had nothing to do with the Aerodom transaction, it’s a process that adheres to the law.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
I hope some of our posters can evaluate the meaning of this ....These guys are very smart investment scavengers with worldwide connections and experience in duty free and airports....I am pretty sure this was a distress sale by the parties involved and they took what they could get....I could be wrong...But I find it difficult to understand how to make money with so many airports so close together...and not all of them owned by the same company....Puerto Rico has one airport in essence and does more business and pax than all of ours combined...those of you that are informed please explain the true meaning of this sale ot this white elephant....Let us hope we can get these absurd taxes lowered ...but I doubt it
Written by: juanb, 9 Sep 2008 9:54 AM
From: Dominican Republic
As I understand it, Puerto Rico is a hub with plenty of "through" flights, whereas the DR is a destination.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
juan that is the whole point .....why do we need twelve airports to handle the traffic that two or max three could handle it is very costly to supply all the all inclusive hotels we have
Written by: juanb, 9 Sep 2008 10:38 AM
From: Dominican Republic
GC:
I am only guessing, but I would imagine that people who are going to, and can afford, these "remote" locations don't want to suffer the inconvenience of having to ride a couple of hours to reach their hotel.
From: United States
Questions!!! if you live in Barahona, Azua, Pedernales would it be more convenient to fly to Sto. Dgo. or to an airport in Barahona or in an area close by. If you live in Santiago would you be better of flying to an aiport in Samana? If you are traveling to Punta Cana, are you closer flying into an airport in Santiago. Come on people. The airports in DR are not that close to one another as some may think. If you ask me they are very well located and offer each region where they are located access to. This new company seems to be interested in making money, which means they will definately be interested in attracting much more passengers, airlines and other companies to the airports which they will be running.
Written by: Juango, 9 Sep 2008 11:14 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Some airports in the DR where constructed due to "income interest/por interestes" and could never be justified based on service loads at present times or in a future 10 year period. They are white elefants, Hazoury/Aerodom makes money regarless if planes fly or not. The construction projects alone are worth millions. Same reason, anyone with "MegaBucks" would want to invest in Power Plants in the DR, when most don't operate anywhere near capacity. It is all about MONEY! Our money, the taxpayers! The owner of these projects make money, regardless if the operate or not. It is about MONEY. All "POR INTERES"!
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Juango... thank you ....and snoopy you know squat about airports next time you go to Barahona tell them to leave the lights on for you..The DR has about 6 too many airports .... may be more
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Written by: jonbonz, 10 Sep 2008 2:24 AM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo
Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo would give everyone except the people on the south west part of the Island less than three hours to any airport.
Baharona is liste as an international airport. However only charter flights and the immigration and customs guy comes up from the sea port to do anything on the rare occasion a flight actually comes in.
This I gleened about six months ago from the DR government web sites.
From: United States
Gouletcolonial next time I catch a flight into Sto. Dgo. knowing that I need to stay in Santiago, maybe I'll just catch a ride on your back. Given that to you Santiago and Sto.Dgo. are soo close to on another. Or better yet lets use you as a transportation service provider for all those that must get to SDQ from Azua, Bani, Pedernales, Barahona, San Juan etc and viceversa. I'm just glad that you are not the sharpest tool in the shed or the brightest bulb in the room. If any one has to travel over 45 minutes from an airport to their final destination, that really sucks and is a real inconvenience. Specially when one considers all the hassle that comes along with air travel. One, two, three hours is far for anyone to travel to get to and from an airport. So imagine the DR with just Las Americas, Luperon and Punta Cana serving as major airports. Now wouldn't that be a really wonderful and pleasant experience for quite a few travellers.?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
wow pardon me you jerk 45 minutes why dont they build another airport just for you ....you dont get it do you .....look on the map schmuck nobody in the world has this many international airports this close together....snoopy you are a moron and have no idea what airports cost to build and maintain and run
From: United States
There is no bigger jerk and a schmuck than you. Everytime you make a comment you loose IQ points. But like I said the nextime I have to travel to San Juan de la Maguana after landing in Santiago or Sto.Dgo, I'll just have have to hitch a ride on your very wide back. Burro!!!
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
very good comeback snoopy....my hat is off to you
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Now snoopy do you understand now about the quantity of airports....by the way when you swallow all those balloons are you worried one will break?
From: United States
Why do not you ask your dad about balloons popping and breaking in his instestines. I mean after all, apart from you he is the other mule or horses ass in the family.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
it took you that long
From: United States
No...FYI I just forgot to check this article. Unlike you, I honestly have other far more important and exciting interests. This on the other hand is just away for me to get in contact with someone as common as you. On the up side, I think your are great entertainment. Extremely laughable.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
snoopy what you have a chimi in Santiago or maybe you sell phony cuban cigars ? whatever I am glad you can take a joke
From: United States
Gee..Thanks!! I actually live and reside in "the City of the World" aka New York City. But any who..I know a joke when I see one. LOL!!! ;)
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Well snoopy it is nice to have airports close by but not even NYC has so many airports so close together
From: United States
Well NYC has really four airports that serve it. The most ravelled ar JFK, LGA, and EWR. And the fact is that you can reach any of the three airports that serve the NYC area within 45 minutes from any location on Manhattan. Then again not everyone lives on Mahattan, present company included. So for me at times to get to JFK is a pain in the you know what. And Newark "fogetaboutit", I do not even bother. I totally understand that for a small island we have a considerable amount of international airports, but you also have to remember that our island is very mountainous and as a result cities, towns and villages are not as closeby as you may think. Some are even difficult to reach because of poor roads. So given that...
From: United States
For some one to trek it from Monteplata to Sto. Dgo is not easy. Its actually damn unconfortable. Just to get on a plane. The same goes for someone in Jarabacoa having to travel to PP. Now that Santiago has an airport maybe it won't be so inconvenient. But in my view these airports serve a purpose for the greater good of all Dominicans even though some others do not see it that way. Don't get me wrong I know that there may be some airpots that have not shown there usefulness like the Maria Montez International, but on the other hand most of the other excisting airports have shown there need in the locations where they are.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
snoopy not according to the numbers and the cost.....
From: United States
Well all I can say if those aiports are close down which I highly doubt, there will be many pissed off Dominicans. That the numbers yet do not show. So let see what the future holds.
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I am only guessing, but I would imagine that people who are going to, and can afford, these "remote" locations don't want to suffer the inconvenience of having to ride a couple of hours to reach their hotel.
Baharona is liste as an international airport. However only charter flights and the immigration and customs guy comes up from the sea port to do anything on the rare occasion a flight actually comes in.
This I gleened about six months ago from the DR government web sites.