Punta Cana Airport Recognized as the “Best Airport in Central America and the Caribbean” at the 2026 World Airport Awards
Punta Cana, La Altagracia. — Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) has been recognized as the “Best Airport in Central America and the Caribbean” at the 2026 World Airport Awards, organized by Skytrax, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the global airport industry.
The announcement was made during the awards ceremony held on March 18th in London as part of Passenger Terminal Expo (PTE) World, where the world’s highest-rated airports, based on passenger feedback, are honored.
This marks the first time PUJ has received this distinction at the World Airport Awards. In addition, based on the results of the global survey, the airport entered the list of the world’s top 100 airports for the first time.
Recent upgrades in the Terminal B, designed to increase operational capacity and enhance passenger comfort, have helped elevate the overall travel experience and reinforce the airport’s position as one of the Caribbean’s leading international hubs.
Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, highlighted that “this award for Punta Cana Airport reflects growing passenger recognition of its upgraded facilities. Continued investment is strengthening its appeal to travelers and reaffirming the airport’s role as one of the Caribbean’s most important international hubs.”
This recognition reaffirms Punta Cana Airport’s commitment to service excellence, innovation, and the continuous improvement of the passenger experience, further solidifying its leadership in the region.
About World Airport Awards
Established in 1999, the World Airport Awards are a global benchmark for quality in the airport industry and are based on the sector’s largest annual customer satisfaction survey.
In the 2026 edition, passengers from more than 100 nationalities participated, evaluating the airport experience at over 565 airports worldwide.
The survey assesses every passenger touchpoint throughout the airport journey, including check-in processes, security, immigration, retail areas, services, and the boarding gate experience.
About Punta Cana Airport (PUJ)
Inaugurated in 1983, Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is the world’s first privately owned international commercial airport and the busiest and most connected airport in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. It connects 81 international airports in 26 countries and handles approximately eight million passengers annually.
The airport features two runways, 41 boarding gates, 45 aircraft parking positions, and four VIP lounges. It also operates its own Recycling and Incineration Center, where approximately 60% of the waste generated by airport operations is processed.
PUJ has been recognized for eight consecutive years (2015–2023) by Airports Council International (ACI) as “Best Airport by Size and Region” in the 5–15 million passenger category for the Caribbean and Latin America. It also holds Level 3 certification under ACI’s Customer Experience Accreditation Program and a 4-Star SKYTRAX certification, the global benchmark for airport service quality, operational efficiency, and passenger experience. In addition, the airport has achieved Level 3 Carbon Accreditation and has twice received ACI’s “Best Hygiene Measures by Region” award, reaffirming its commitment to operational excellence, health safety, and passenger experience.
