Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), a member of the global Vinci Airports network, has unveiled a robust growth projection for its 2026–2027 winter operating season, forecasting a 4.9% rise in international seat capacity across all its Dominican airports compared to the prior winter season. The expansion plan will bring roughly 1.9 million total international seats to the country, paired with more than 10,500 scheduled departing flights and eight brand-new international destinations. This move is designed to reinforce the Dominican Republic’s air links to critical global tourism and commercial markets, supporting the country’s ongoing economic and travel industry growth.
The bulk of the expanded capacity will be centered at Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), the Dominican Republic’s primary gateway in Santo Domingo, which will offer more than 1.5 million international seats – a 3.4% year-over-year increase. Among the most notable new routes is a direct service between Santo Domingo and Rome operated by ITA Airways, marking the first nonstop connection between the Dominican capital and Italy. Additional new routes from SDQ include Montreal via Air Canada, Houston via United Airlines, and Paramaribo, Suriname via local carrier Fly Always. Existing route networks will also see expansion, with added frequencies to Caracas, Venezuela, and Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, strengthening regional connectivity for passengers traveling out of Santo Domingo.
Multiple major international carriers are ramping up their existing capacity at SDQ to meet growing travel demand. U.S.-based JetBlue will boost seat capacity on its Fort Lauderdale route by 128%, while American Airlines is expanding its Philadelphia service from just 24 annual flights to 153 during the winter season. Colombia’s Avianca will add a 41% capacity increase to its Bogotá route, Spain’s Iberia is lifting capacity to Madrid by 19%, and Panama’s Copa Airlines will add 15% more seats for travel to Panama City. Regional carrier Aerojet is also increasing its Boston service capacity by 67% to accommodate rising passenger numbers.
At Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), located in the popular coastal tourist destination of Puerto Plata, overall capacity is projected to grow by 8.8%, with Canadian travelers driving much of this expansion: seat capacity from the Canadian market will jump 28% year-over-year. Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines will add new services from Toronto and Montreal, while WestJet will launch its first nonstop route from Winnipeg. Air Transat will also introduce a new connection from London, Ontario. Beyond Canadian links, POP will gain a new direct route to Bogotá operated by low-cost carrier Wingo, and Copa Airlines will expand capacity to Panama, further extending regional connectivity options from the northern Dominican coast.
The fastest growth by percentage across Aerodom’s entire network will take place at President Juan Bosch International Airport (AZS) in Samaná, a scenic resort region on the country’s northeastern coast. Scheduled seat capacity at AZS will rise 29% year-over-year, with Canadian capacity growing nearly 40% thanks to expanded service from both WestJet and Air Canada out of Montreal.
Across all Aerodom-managed airports, Canada stands out as the single largest driver of winter season capacity growth, with a total of more than 230,000 scheduled seats – a 33% increase from the 2025–2026 winter season, adding around 58,000 additional seats for travelers coming to the Dominican Republic from Canada.
This major expansion of air connectivity aligns with Aerodom’s large-scale infrastructure investment program currently underway at Las Américas International Airport. The project carries a total investment of 24 billion Dominican pesos and includes construction of a brand-new passenger terminal, full rehabilitation of the airport’s main runway, and installation of a cutting-edge automated baggage handling system. Once completed, these upgrades are expected to boost the airport’s overall operational capacity while elevating standards for passenger safety, operational efficiency, and overall service quality for travelers visiting the Dominican Republic.