As construction nears completion on the Dominican Republic’s first aircraft MRO facility in Punta Cana, Mejico Angeles-Lithgow, CEO of FL Technics Dominican Republic S.A.S., says this historic milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for the country’s aviation sector. It reflects both the company’s commitment to developing local aviation talent and its ambition to strengthen the Dominican Republic’s role in the global aviation sector.
Located in the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the country’s first independent heavy maintenance hangar will serve airlines across North, Central, and South America. Backed by a 70 million USD joint investment from FL Technics, a global aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, and Grupo Puntacana, a leading Dominican hospitality and tourism development company, the project introduces a new industry to the region and opens opportunities for Dominican professionals to grow in high-value careers.
Mr. Angeles-Lithgow joined FL Technics Dominican Republic as CEO last spring at a key stage in the company’s expansion in the Americas. With more than 30 years of executive experience across multiple industries, he has played a central role in establishing operational processes, building a team of local and international experts, and initiating collaboration with Dominican educational institutions and partners.
“As a Dominican, I am proud to lead a project that will shape the future of aviation in our country and will eventually be fully led by Dominican professionals,” says Mr. Angeles-Lithgow. “We will begin with a team where half of the specialists are local. The other half will be foreign aviation experts whose role is to transfer knowledge and ensure a smooth transition. As our local team gains experience, leadership, and operations will gradually shift into Dominican hands. I am an example of what this vision represents.”
The CEO emphasizes the broader importance of the new MRO facility to the Dominican Republic’s long-term development. Air travel remains the main entry point for visitors, making aviation central to the tourism sector and the national economy. “Our new MRO facility is aligned with the Dominican Republic’s development strategy,” he explains. “By strengthening aviation capabilities here, we support the State’s objectives in tourism and in building a modern service-based economy.”
In addition to its strategic value, the project will bring significant economic benefits to the region. The first phase alone will create more than 300 skilled jobs, generating both direct employment and a wider positive impact as new professionals settle and contribute locally. Punta Cana, historically centered on hospitality, will diversify with the addition of a specialized aviation industry.
“We are creating competitive, skilled employment that complements the economic activity already present in the region,” says Mr. Angeles-Lithgow. “For the first time, aircraft arriving here will be able to receive maintenance locally. This strengthens operational efficiency for airlines and supports the region’s emergence as a growing aviation hub.”
