The VOLAVILLE project in Miches, El Seibo, which planned to transform decommissioned Pawa Dominicana aircraft into luxury villas, will no longer operate as originally envisioned due to the high cost of renovating the planes.
The project involved three former Pawa Dominicana aircraft purchased for about US$20,000 through a legal bidding process. However, two of the planes have since been sold to other buyers.
Investor Sergio Carlo said the original concept, developed by 7Palms and led by Carlos Bernardo Manzano and Carlos Rafael Manzano, became financially unfeasible because renovating each aircraft would cost approximately US$1.5 million.
As a result, the largest remaining aircraft will instead be converted into a restaurant and bar, Carlo said. A commercial plaza is also planned near the Miches community, where the aircraft will be located, with a terrace for customers.
The VOLAVILLE project had previously been expected to transform at least one of the former Pawa aircraft into an accommodation unit after the planes were moved to Miches. However, the project has now been redesigned to pursue a different tourism and commercial concept.