One of the Dominican Republic’s most popular coastal tourism hubs, Puerto Plata, is set to welcome more international visitors this year as Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) advances an expansion of its global flight network, adding new routes to Canada and boosting regular service to Panama.
Aerodom, the airport operator that forms part of the global Vinci Airports network, has confirmed a permanent capacity increase from one of Latin America’s leading carriers: Copa Airlines. Starting immediately, the airline will ramp up its weekly service between Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport and Puerto Plata from three flights to four. The expanded schedule will create more flexible connection options for travelers traveling to and from dozens of destinations across Central and South America, leveraging Copa Airlines’ strategic hub in Panama to cut down on layover times and expand access to Puerto Plata’s renowned beaches and tourist attractions.
For the upcoming 2024-2025 Northern Hemisphere winter travel season, two major Canadian carriers will roll out new direct seasonal services to the Dominican destination, both launching on December 15. Air Transat will introduce a new weekly flight connecting POP to London, Ontario, a growing market for leisure travel to the Caribbean. Meanwhile, WestJet will launch a weekly seasonal route from Winnipeg, extending direct access to Puerto Plata for travelers in the Canadian prairies who previously faced longer connecting itineraries.
Beyond expanding its route network, Gregorio Luperón International Airport has also cemented its reputation for delivering high-quality passenger experience. The airport has been recognized four times by the Airports Council International (ACI) with the globally respected Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award, including a 2025 honor as the best airport in Latin America and the Caribbean in the under 2 million annual passengers category. This award, which is based on direct feedback from passengers across metrics including check-in experience, terminal cleanliness, and staff service, underscores the airport’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of growing visitor numbers while maintaining service standards.