— Punta Cana International Airport won Best Airport in Central America and the Caribbean at the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards, entering the global top 100 for the first time
— The privately owned airport handled over 11 million passengers in 2025, a 10% jump, and serves as the gateway for 67% of all tourists entering the Dominican Republic
— Singapore Changi took the global top spot, with Asian airports claiming five of the top ten positions in a ceremony that doubled as a showcase of where LATAM aviation still needs to catch up
Punta Cana International Airport has been named the best airport in Central America and the Caribbean at the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards, marking the first time the Dominican Republic‘s busiest gateway has won the distinction. The Rio Times, the Latin American financial news outlet, reports that the award — announced Wednesday at London’s Passenger Terminal Expo — also placed Punta Cana in the global top 100 airports for the first time, alongside a new 4-Star Skytrax rating.
The results are based on surveys completed by travelers from over 100 countries who rated 565 airports worldwide on everything from check-in and security to shopping, gate experience, and overall comfort. The awards, launched in 1999, are widely regarded as the aviation industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Singapore Changi reclaimed the global number-one spot, followed by Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Haneda.
Punta Cana Airport Rides a Tourism Boom
The award arrives during the strongest period in the airport’s 43-year history. Punta Cana handled more than 11 million passengers in 2025 — a 10% increase over 2024 — and set multiple records, including 900 weekly flights and 51,000 passengers in a single day during the December peak. The airport serves as the primary entry point for roughly two-thirds of all tourists arriving in the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic welcomed over 11 million visitors in 2024 and is on pace to exceed that in 2025, cementing its position as the Caribbean’s most-visited destination. Terminal B renovations, new routes to France, Mexico, Colombia, and the eastern Caribbean, and the expansion of low-cost carrier Arajet have all contributed to the airport’s growth.
Where Latin America Stands in the Global Rankings
The Skytrax ceremony underlined how far Latin American airports still lag behind their Asian and European peers. The global top ten was dominated by Asia — with three Japanese airports, two in Singapore, and one each in Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei — alongside Munich, Zurich, and Istanbul from Europe. No airport from the Americas, north or south, cracked the top ten.
Bogotá’s El Dorado won Best Airport in South America, while Punta Cana took the Caribbean and Central American title. The gap reflects chronic underinvestment in regional aviation infrastructure, where many major hubs still struggle with congestion, outdated terminals, and inconsistent passenger services compared to the seamless, technology-driven experience that top Asian airports deliver.
A Private Airport With a Public Impact
Punta Cana is the world’s first privately owned international commercial airport, founded by Grupo Puntacana in 1983 when the surrounding area was undeveloped coastline. That private model has allowed faster investment cycles than many state-run airports in the region, contributing to its eight consecutive years of ACI recognition for customer experience.
Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted noted that Punta Cana’s continued investment is strengthening its appeal as one of the Caribbean’s most important international hubs. The airport now connects 81 international airports across 26 countries, with two runways, 41 boarding gates, and four VIP lounges.
For the Dominican Republic’s tourism-driven economy — where the sector contributes roughly 20% of GDP and supports nearly a million jobs — the Skytrax recognition is more than a trophy. It signals to airlines, tour operators, and travelers that the infrastructure behind the Caribbean’s top destination is finally matching the beaches that made it famous. With 12 million annual visitors now in sight, the award gives Punta Cana international credibility at exactly the moment it needs to convert growing interest into lasting growth.