Samaná El Portillo Airport

The airport was closed because it was strategically replaced by the much larger and more modern Samaná El Catey International Airport. The primary reasons for this replacement were economic and logistical. El Portillo's runway was extremely short (approximately 488 meters / 1,600 feet) and its facilities were minimal, restricting it to small, propeller-driven aircraft (like the Twin Otter). It could not handle the larger jet aircraft necessary to support the growing international tourism demand for the Samaná peninsula. The new airport was built to accommodate wide-body jets from North America and Europe, making El Portillo obsolete.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and is no longer recognizable as an airfield. The land has been repurposed for commercial and urban use. A major road, the Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico, now runs along or over parts of the former runway. The area is now occupied by commercial plazas (like Plaza El Paseo de la Costanera), shops, restaurants, banks, and residential properties. The development effectively erased the airport's physical footprint, integrating the valuable coastal land into the town of Las Terrenas.

Prior to its closure, Samaná El Portillo Airport was the vital air link for the popular tourist destinations of Las Terrenas and the surrounding area. It played a crucial role in the initial development of tourism on that part of the peninsula. The airport primarily handled domestic flights from other Dominican hubs like Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, as well as private charters and regional flights from other Caribbean islands. Its operations were characterized by small Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft, providing a scenic and direct, albeit limited, entry point for tourists staying in the nearby resorts.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The land has been permanently and extensively redeveloped with significant infrastructure, making any return to aviation operations physically impossible and economically unfeasible. Its function has been entirely and permanently superseded by the Samaná El Catey International Airport, which continues to serve the region.