Dominican Winter Flights Add 88,000 Seats
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · AVIATION
Key Facts
- —What is happening The company that runs Santo Domingo’s main airport and five other state airports announced on Wednesday, 14 October, that airlines have scheduled about 1.9 million international seats this winter, 4.9% more than last winter.
- —Why it matters The United States was the biggest source of Dominican tourists in September, with 39% of them and the origin of 41% of flights, so extra US seats matter to the tourism industry.
- —The numbers Seats rise more than 88,000 to about 1.9 million; JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale capacity rises 128%, American Airlines’ Philadelphia flights go from 24 to 153, and Arajet’s Boston offering rises 67%.
- —Who is who Aerodom is a Dominican subsidiary of the VINCI Airports group with a concession to run six state airports until 2060, led by director general Cyril Girot; Arajet is a Dominican low-cost airline.
- —What to watch Airlines can still change these schedules, and United’s new Houston to Santo Domingo service, with three flights a week, is due to start on Friday, 18 December.
- —What it means for you US travellers heading to Santo Domingo this winter will see more scheduled seats from Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Boston and, from December, Houston, but the figures are airline capacity that can change, so confirm flights with the carrier.
Aerodom projects 1.9 million winter seats at three Dominican airports. Canada leads the growth, while JetBlue, American Airlines and Arajet add capacity to US cities.
Dominican winter flights will offer about 1.9 million international seats, 4.9% more than last winter, Aerodom announced on Wednesday, 14 October. JetBlue, American Airlines and Arajet add capacity to US cities, and United starts Houston flights in December.
The figures cover Aerodom’s airports in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Samaná, not Punta Cana or Santiago. Aerodom’s note says the numbers are airline-published capacity and are subject to change.
What Aerodom Announced
Aerodom, a subsidiary of VINCI Airports, an international airport operator, holds a concession to run six Dominican state airports until 2060. Its director general, Cyril Girot, said the growth reflects airline confidence in the country as a tourism and business destination.
The operator expects about 1.9 million international seats between late October and late March, including more than 10,500 departing flights. That is more than 88,000 extra seats, with direct service to 57 foreign destinations.
Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, the capital, takes more than 1.5 million of the seats, up 3.4%. Puerto Plata’s capacity grows 8.8% and Samaná’s 29%, the fastest rate in the network.
Canada leads the growth with more than 230,000 seats, up 33%, or about 58,000 extra seats. That is roughly two thirds of the network’s net gain of 88,000 seats.
Aerodom is investing in a new Las Américas terminal worth 24 billion Dominican pesos (about US$391 million), plus runway and baggage-system works. Conversions use the central bank’s rate for Wednesday, 14 October: 61.41 pesos per US$1, the average of its buying and selling rates.
Dominican Winter Flights to US Cities
JetBlue, a US airline, will more than double its Fort Lauderdale to Santo Domingo capacity, up 128%. In August, Aerodom said JetBlue had gone from one to three daily flights on that route on 9 July.
American Airlines, also a US carrier, lifts its Philadelphia route from 24 to 153 flights, over six times the earlier figure. Diario Libre lists American’s other US links to the country as Miami, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York, Boston and Chicago.
Arajet, the Dominican low-cost airline, will raise its Boston offering by 67%. The route launched in November 2025 with four flights a week, El Caribe and Dominican Today reported at the time.
United Airlines starts Houston to Santo Domingo flights on Friday, 18 December, with three a week, Aerodom said in August. The earlier article on the Houston service covers entry rules and the holiday timing.
What the Winter Schedule Leaves Out
Punta Cana took 47% of September’s arrivals and Santiago’s Cibao airport 12%, the Tourism Ministry said on Tuesday, 6 October. Neither is among the six airports Aerodom operates, so their winter schedules fall outside the release.
American Airlines closed its Santo Domingo ticket office this week, but Listín Diario reported on 14 October that its flights continue. A source told Diario Libre on 15 October that the airline’s operations at Dominican airports will rise in November and December.
What It Means for US Readers
The United States supplied 39% of September’s tourists and was the origin of 41% of that month’s flights, the Tourism Ministry said. That month 533,735 tourists arrived by air; January to September brought 9,241,246 visitors, including cruise passengers, up 7.5%.
Travellers from Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia and Boston will see more scheduled seats, and Houston gains a link from 18 December. Fares were not announced, so more seats do not guarantee cheaper tickets.
Check the airline’s own schedule before booking, because the figures are published capacity that can change. Travellers heading to Punta Cana should look at those airlines’ schedules separately.
For background, read the Dominican tourism economy guide and the country’s role in Latin America. The Santo Domingo city guide covers the capital for visitors.
What Is Not Known
The release gives no base figures for JetBlue’s 128% or Arajet’s 67%. It also does not say whether American’s 153 flights count one direction or both.
It gives no total for US routes, no fares and no seat counts by airline. Aerodom’s note says the figures are airline-published capacity and are subject to modification.
Winter schedules for Punta Cana and Cibao, which Aerodom does not operate, are not covered. Arajet’s planned Boston frequencies for this winter are not stated.
What Comes Next
The season for Dominican winter flights runs from late October to late March, the release says. Aerodom’s August release set ITA Airways’ Rome start for Monday, 30 November, and Air Canada’s Montreal start for Thursday, 10 December.
United’s Houston service begins on Friday, 18 December. Airlines can still change any of these dates and capacity figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seats will Dominican airports offer this winter?
Aerodom expects about 1.9 million international seats at its Las Américas, Puerto Plata and Samaná airports, 4.9% more than last winter. That is more than 88,000 extra seats.
Which US cities get more flights?
JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale capacity rises 128%, American Airlines’ Philadelphia flights go from 24 to 153 and Arajet’s Boston offering rises 67%. United starts Houston flights on 18 December.
Does the schedule include Punta Cana?
No, the figures cover Aerodom’s airports in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Samaná. Punta Cana, which took 47% of September’s arrivals, is not one of Aerodom’s six airports.
Are these seats already sold?
No, Aerodom says the figures are the capacity airlines have published for the season and are subject to change. They are not bookings.
Who is Aerodom?
Aerodom is a Dominican subsidiary of the VINCI Airports group with a concession to run six state airports until 2060. Cyril Girot is its director general.
Sources: Aerodom press room, 14 October 2026 release on winter 2026-2027 seats; Aerodom, 14 October 2026 press release (PDF); Aerodom, 10 August 2026 press release on new routes (PDF); Listín Diario, 14 October 2026; Dominican Today, 15 October 2026; Presidencia of the Dominican Republic, Tourism Ministry figures; Banco Central de la República Dominicana, exchange rate of 14 October 2026; Listín Diario, 14 October 2026 (American Airlines office); Diario Libre, 15 October 2026 (American Airlines); El Caribe, 22 November 2025 (Arajet Boston launch); Dominican Today, 24 November 2025 (Arajet Boston launch); El Dinero, 7 October 2026 (Tourism Ministry figures) (all accessed 15 October 2026).
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