Santo Domingo, DO 🇩🇴 Closed Airport
DO-0013
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190 ft
DO-01
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 18.4697° N, -69.969398° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: MDHE MDHE HEX
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February 23, 2006. On this date, all air operations were officially ceased and transferred to the newly constructed La Isabela International Airport (Dr. JoaquĂn Balaguer - ICAO: MDJB).
The primary reason for closure was urban encroachment and real estate development. As Santo Domingo expanded, the airport became surrounded by dense residential and commercial neighborhoods. This created significant safety risks due to low-flying aircraft, noise pollution for residents, and limitations on the airport's own potential for expansion. The Dominican government, under President Leonel Fernández, decided to close the airport to eliminate these risks and to redevelop the extremely valuable, centrally-located land.
The airport site has been completely and irreversibly redeveloped. The land is now part of a major urban renewal project in the area known as Centro de los HĂ©roes. It is occupied by important government and judicial buildings, including the Supreme Court of Justice (Suprema Corte de Justicia), the Attorney General's Office (ProcuradurĂa General de la RepĂşblica), and other state institutions. Additionally, a large portion of the former airport grounds was converted into public green space, expanding the adjacent Parque Mirador Sur. Residential and commercial buildings also occupy parts of the former site. No trace of the runway, taxiways, or terminal buildings remains.
Opened in 1973, Herrera International Airport (former ICAO: MDHE) was the primary airport for domestic flights, general aviation, and flight schools in Santo Domingo for over three decades. It provided convenient access to the city center for business travelers, private pilots, and government officials. The airport was a hub for several Dominican airlines (such as Air Santo Domingo, Caribair, and SAP Air) connecting the capital with other cities in the Dominican Republic like Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Samaná. It also handled some international charter and regional flights to nearby Caribbean destinations like Haiti and Puerto Rico.
None. The prospect of reopening is zero. The closure was permanent, and the land has been fully repurposed with critical, permanent infrastructure. The airport's role and operations were successfully and permanently transferred to La Isabela International Airport (MDJB), which was specifically built to replace Herrera.
Reply to @david: no problem, any question on dominican republic i'll be glad to help.
Reply to @dominicanpilot: thanks for the update -- I've marked the airport as closed.
Reply to @dominicanpilot: There are some planes that weren't able to fly and were abandoned in place, a big part of the runway it's now being used by some chain stores and as a drag race place sponsored by brahma beer company.
The Herrera Airport Has Been Closed to All Traffic And It's Only used as a Landmark
According to the Wikipedia article, this airport closed in 2006 when airline traffic moved to La Isabela, and the military blocked the runway. There are a lot of planes on the apron in the Google satellite photo, though — could the photo really be three years old? More info would be appreciated.