Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperón International Airport is on a solid upward trajectory, with multiple new carriers launching connections to major global tourism markets that are driving double-digit passenger growth for the Dominican Republic travel hub.
Carlos Rodolí, director of the Airports North Cluster managed by Dominican airport operator Aerodom (Aeropuertos Siglo XXI), revealed that passenger volumes at the terminal have climbed 7.8% year-to-date in 2026 compared to 2025. Even in September, historically one of the slowest months for tourist arrivals in the region, the airport recorded a 35% jump in passenger numbers over the same period in 2025.
Rodolí shared the latest growth figures in an interview with industry outlet arecoa.com, noting that much of the current expansion is fueled by rising demand from the Canadian tourism market, which has seen a sharp uptick in visitor numbers heading to the Dominican Republic’s North Coast. “Our expectations for Puerto Plata are very positive, because the Canadian market has already posted high passenger volumes and consistently full flight occupancy,” Rodolí stated.
Alongside growing demand from existing source markets, the airport’s expansion has been bolstered by the expanded permanent operations of Copa Airlines, which scaled up its services to the North Coast starting June 1, after launching its initial service in January. According to Rodolí, Copa Airlines has already been a core contributor to the terminal’s growth, moving a substantial number of passengers since the start of 2026. The carrier alone has brought more than 15,000 Argentine tourists to Puerto Plata, signaling the fast-growing potential of the South American tourism market for the region. “This confirms that the South American market continues to expand, with rising optimism for future gains,” Rodolí added.
Looking ahead in the near term, two new low-cost routes are set to launch in the coming months to further boost connectivity. Starting November 6, Colombian low-cost carrier Wingo will launch twice-weekly service between Bogotá, Colombia, and Puerto Plata, with flights operating on Mondays and Fridays through January 25, 2027. Additionally, Canadian low-cost airline Flair Airlines will add Puerto Plata to its 2026-2027 winter route network, launching new non-stop services: the first flight from Montreal will launch on December 18, followed by a Toronto route one day later on December 19.
“The low-cost carrier is making a major bet on northern Dominican Republic, with extensive connectivity across Canada that will add thousands of new seats to the market,” Rodolí explained. He also emphasized that the airport’s overall growth is not just driven by new entrants, but also by steady expansion from existing carriers that already operate regular service out of the terminal.
Looking forward to 2027, Rodolí noted that the upward trend is expected to continue, with growing interest from long-haul carriers. Multiple European airlines are currently in negotiations to launch new operations at Gregorio Luperón International Airport, which could unlock even more tourist volume from European source markets in the coming years.