Dominican Republic-Canada Flights Expand Ahead of Winter Season

Air connectivity between the Dominican Republic and Canada is expected to strengthen during the 2026-2027 winter season, with Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) reporting increased Canadian passenger traffic and additional airline capacity at three Dominican airports.

The largest capacity increases are planned for Puerto Plata and Samaná. Aerodom expects the number of available seats from Canada to Puerto Plata to rise by approximately 20% compared with the previous winter, while capacity to Samaná is projected to increase by about 39%.

Puerto Plata Adds New Canadian Routes

Canadian traffic to Puerto Plata is already growing, with the market up 13% compared with 2025. Air Transat leads the market with approximately 153,000 passengers, followed by WestJet with more than 113,000.

Air Canada has also recorded growth of 22% in the Puerto Plata market. The expansion will continue in December 2026, when Air Transat plans to introduce a weekly service linking London, Ontario, and Puerto Plata.

WestJet will add another connection between Canada and Puerto Plata, launching a weekly route from Winnipeg. The new services will give travelers in additional Canadian cities direct access to the Dominican Republic’s northern tourism region.

Samaná Sees Strong Growth in Canadian Traffic

Samaná, on the Dominican Republic’s northeastern coast, is experiencing an even stronger increase in Canadian passenger traffic. Aerodom reports that traffic from Canada at the airport has grown 62% compared with the previous period.

Air Transat currently accounts for approximately 44,000 passengers, while WestJet has carried nearly 31,000 and Air Canada about 19,000. Air Canada’s traffic at Samaná has increased 17% compared with 2025.

The additional capacity is expected to reinforce Samaná’s connections with the Canadian market during the winter months, when the Dominican Republic traditionally attracts travelers seeking warmer destinations.

Air Canada Adds Montreal-Santo Domingo Service

Connectivity will also expand at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) in Santo Domingo. Air Canada plans to introduce a new route between Montreal and Santo Domingo, with two weekly flights beginning in December 2026.

The service will provide another direct option between the Dominican capital and Montreal, one of Canada’s major urban centers. Together with the new services to Puerto Plata and the increased capacity to Samaná, the additions will broaden the range of direct travel options between the two countries for the coming winter season.

Aerodom CEO Cyril Girot said the airport operator is focused on strengthening connections with strategic markets for the Dominican Republic, pointing to the growth in Canadian traffic and airlines’ decisions to add routes and capacity as signs of the market’s potential.

The expansion means Canadian travelers will have more direct flight options to several destinations in the Dominican Republic during the 2026-2027 winter season, while the additional capacity will support air links with three of the country’s key passenger airports.