Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Punta Cana International Airport

Punta Cana, La Altagracia Province (Dominican Republic)

IATA: PUJ ICAO: MDPC

Longest Active Runway

10,171 ft

3,100 meters

Field Elevation

47 ft

14 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

18.5671°, -68.3646°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#519 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#843 of 7558

Top 11.2% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Dominican Republic)

#2 in DO

#2 of 10 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+1.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Punta Cana International Airport's longest active runway measures 10,171 ft (3,100 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #519. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #843 worldwide (Top 11.2%) and #2 nationally in Dominican Republic.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Punta Cana International Airport is the Caribbean's busiest leisure destination hub. Both parallel runways measure 10,170 ft in length, engineered with high-strength asphalt to accommodate heavy widebody charter aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 arriving from European capitals. Its low coastal elevation (40 ft MSL) ensures full engine thrust efficiency and generous payload-range envelopes.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Dual parallel runways 08/26 (10,170 ft / 3,100 m) and 09/27 (10,170 ft / 3,100 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Privately developed in 1984 by Grupo Puntacana to unlock the eastern Dominican Republic coastline. Pioneered open-air terminal pavilions with traditional palm-thatched roofs; added Runway 08/26 in 2011 to handle surge European and American charter traffic.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Processes over 65% of Dominican Republic international air traffic, far eclipsing the capital's Las Américas International (SDQ, 75 NM west).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Tropical maritime trade winds blowing steadily from the east allow prevailing landings on Runways 08 and 09 with minimal crosswind deviation year-round.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Dominican Republic National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4D / 4E Heavy Intercontinental

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Punta Cana International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 47 ft (14 m MSL) in Punta Cana. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Processes over 65% of Dominican Republic international air traffic, far eclipsing the capital's Las Américas International (SDQ, 75 NM west). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) located 74.7 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,171 ft (3,100 m)

Punta Cana International Airport's active flight strips comprise 09/27 (10,171 ft), 08/26 (10,171 ft). With a longest active threshold of 10,171 ft (3,100 m), the primary runway accommodates transcontinental twin-engine widebodies and long-range narrowbody airliners at standard operational weights.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
09/27	10,171 ft (3100m)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
08/26	10,171 ft (3100m)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Las Américas International Airport (Santo Domingo)	`SDQ`	74.7 NM (138.3 km)	11,000 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/puj.json ↗