The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) has released new aviation data that confirms a landmark milestone for the Dominican Republic’s travel and aviation sector: the country welcomed a record-breaking 1.6 million air passengers in May 2026, representing a robust 9.2% increase compared to the same period a year earlier.
This strong upward trajectory has been consistent through the first five months of 2026, with the country averaging nearly 9% annual growth over this stretch. This performance cements the Dominican Republic’s position as one of the highest-performing aviation markets across the entire Latin America and Caribbean region.
A breakdown of passenger data reveals the outsized strength of the country’s key international routes. The United States, the Dominican Republic’s largest source of international travelers, contributed 52% of the nation’s total passenger volume and posted a 5.6% year-over-year increase. Notably, this growth comes even as the overall U.S. market with the broader Latin America and Caribbean region saw a 1.2% contraction in passenger traffic during the same month. Canada, the Dominican Republic’s second-largest international market, delivered even faster expansion, with passenger numbers rising 10.5% year over year.
Based on total passenger volume, ALTA has designated the air corridor connecting the Dominican Republic and the United States ranks as the second most vital extra-regional air route across the entire Latin America and Caribbean region.
Looking at the broader regional landscape, total air travel across Latin America and the Caribbean reached 38.7 million total passengers in May 2026, a 2.7% year-over-year gain. While overall regional growth has moderated from the faster expansion rates recorded in the earlier months of 2026, industry demand still remains strong, with domestic and intra-regional travel serving as the primary engine of this sustained resilience.