Regional air travel across the Eastern Caribbean is poised for a major upgrade, after U.S.-based regional carrier Contour Airlines announced plans to launch a new nonstop route linking Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago, scheduled to begin operations on October 5, 2026. The new service will connect Dominica’s Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) to Piarco International Airport (POS) in Port of Spain, operating on a twice-weekly schedule to meet demand from both leisure and business travelers.
Per the official flight schedule released by the airline, the route will operate with outbound flights from Dominica to Port of Spain departing at 6:05 PM on Mondays and Thursdays, arriving at 7:25 PM the same day. Return flights from Port of Spain to Dominica will depart at 8:30 AM on Tuesdays and Fridays, landing in Douglas-Charles at 9:50 AM. Beyond the core nonstop service, Contour Airlines will also offer convenient one-stop, same-plane connecting services linking Port of Spain to two major Caribbean hubs: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The one-stop service operates once weekly for each hub, matching the carrier’s core route schedule to streamline connections for passengers.
All flights on the new route will be operated using Contour Airlines’ fleet of 30-seat regional jets, configured to prioritize passenger comfort with extra legroom, complimentary onboard snacks, and full inflight service. This marks a noticeable upgrade from smaller regional turboprop services that have historically served the route, offering a faster, more comfortable travel experience for all passengers.
In an official statement released by the Discover Dominica Authority, the Dominican government framed the new route as a critical milestone in its long-term strategy to expand the country’s air connectivity network, unlock new growth opportunities for tourism, trade, and cross-border business development. Denise Charles-Pemberton, Dominica’s Minister for Tourism, emphasized that the direct jet service addresses longstanding gaps in regional travel, making access to Dominica far more convenient and reliable for international and regional visitors.
“Trinidad is a high-potential emerging market for Dominica’s nature-focused tourism sector,” Charles-Pemberton noted. She highlighted that Trinidad has a large, active community of birdwatching enthusiasts, a group that aligns perfectly with Dominica’s core tourism offerings: the island’s unspoiled rainforests, hundreds of unique native bird species, and world-class outdoor recreation including hiking, scuba diving, and nature-based wellness retreats. Beyond nature tourism, the minister added that the new route will also open up access to Dominica’s growing range of cultural events and adventure tourism experiences for Trinidadian travelers. The service also restores a convenient transit hub through Piarco International Airport, giving Dominican and international passengers more options for connecting onward to destinations across North and South America.
“We are thrilled to expand our growing footprint across the Caribbean with this new nonstop connection,” said Ben Munson, President of Contour Airlines. Munson emphasized that the route will strengthen regional integration for residents, business operators, and tourists alike, cutting down on travel time and eliminating the need for inconvenient layovers for passengers traveling between the two islands.
Industry observers note that the new route comes as Dominica continues to invest in expanding its tourism infrastructure, targeting high-value, nature-focused travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences in the Caribbean. The addition of twice-weekly jet service from Trinidad is expected to not only boost visitor arrivals from Trinidad itself but also increase inbound tourism from global travelers connecting through Piarco International’s extensive regional and long-haul network.