Caribbean tourism’s leading sun-and-sea destination, Punta Cana, is set to gain a new direct air link to Europe this summer, as Spanish leisure carrier Iberojet prepares to launch its first nonstop service between Barcelona and the Dominican resort hub starting June 21. The new route, timed to expand connectivity between Spain and the Dominican Republic ahead of the 2026 peak summer travel season, will operate on a weekly Sunday schedule through the end of September, giving vacationers and other travelers a seamless, connection-free route to one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after getaways.
This new Barcelona departure marks the third Iberian Peninsula gateway to the Dominican Republic in Iberojet’s growing route network, which already offers year-round nonstop flights from Madrid (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal). By adding the Catalan capital to its route map, the airline is positioning itself to meet surging demand across three distinct traveler segments: international tourists seeking easy access to Punta Cana’s beaches, business travelers moving between the two markets, and Dominican diaspora members residing across Spain who want more convenient travel options to visit home.
The new service carries particular significance for the large Dominican community based in Catalonia, who previously had to travel to Madrid or connect through other European hubs to reach the Dominican Republic. The nonstop route cuts out layover delays and extra travel time, creating a far more convenient journey between the two countries. Beyond serving resident communities, industry leaders expect the new flight to drive a measurable uptick in tourist arrivals to Punta Cana during the busiest summer travel months, supporting local hospitality and service businesses.
As a subsidiary of Ávoris Corporación Empresarial, the travel division of global tourism group Barceló Group, Iberojet operates a contemporary fleet of Airbus commercial aircraft spanning wide-body models including the A350 and A330, plus the narrow-body A320 for shorter-haul services. Company representatives emphasized that the launch of the Barcelona-Punta Cana route aligns with the carrier’s long-term strategy to strengthen strategic air connections between the Dominican Republic and key source markets across Europe, cementing its position as a leading provider of transatlantic leisure travel to the Caribbean.