The Dominican Republic is advancing a major expansion of air links with Canada, one of the highest-growth international markets for Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) — the airport operator that forms part of the global Vinci Airports network.
New data released by Aerodom shows robust double-digit and even triple-digit growth in Canadian passenger volumes across key Dominican airports through the first months of 2026, when compared to the same timeframe in 2025. At Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperón International Airport, Canadian passenger counts have climbed 13% year-over-year, while Samaná’s Presidente Juan Bosch International Airport has recorded an even more dramatic 62% jump in Canadian traveler arrivals.
This strong growth trend is set to accelerate during the 2026-2027 Northern Hemisphere winter season, as major Canadian airlines have responded to booming travel demand by adding thousands of extra seats and launching entirely new routes between the two countries. The expansion aims to meet rising tourist interest in the Dominican Republic’s coastal destinations, a popular winter getaway for Canadian travelers seeking warm weather.
At Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport, flag carrier Air Canada will introduce a new direct route connecting Montreal to the Dominican capital starting in December 2026. The new service will operate on a twice-weekly schedule, opening up more convenient travel options for both leisure and business travelers between the two cities.
Puerto Plata, one of the Dominican Republic’s top tourist hubs, is also set for a significant capacity boost. Aerodom projections show a 20% jump in available seats from Canadian carriers for the upcoming winter season. Currently, leisure-focused carrier Air Transat dominates the Puerto Plata-Canada market, moving roughly 153,000 passengers annually on its routes. Canadian low-cost giant WestJet ranks second, carrying more than 113,000 passengers, while Air Canada has posted a solid 22% year-over-year growth in passenger traffic on its Puerto Plata services.
Two brand new routes will further connect Puerto Plata to smaller Canadian urban centers. Starting in December 2026, Air Transat will launch a once-weekly flight from London, Ontario, while WestJet will add a weekly direct service from Winnipeg. These new routes open up the Dominican destination to more regional travelers who previously faced long connections through major Canadian hub airports.
In Samaná, a growing ecotourism and luxury travel destination on the Dominican Republic’s northeastern coast, the 62% year-over-year jump in Canadian traffic has prompted carriers to add substantial capacity. Aerodom forecasts that total available seats from Canada to Samaná will rise by around 39% during the 2026-2027 winter season. Currently, Air Transat leads the Samaná market with approximately 44,000 annual Canadian passengers, followed by WestJet with nearly 31,000 and Air Canada with around 19,000. Air Canada has also recorded steady 17% year-over-year growth in its Samaná passenger volumes as of 2026.