American Airlines Ramping Up Flights To Punta Cana As Destination Soars In Popularity

Last Updated 5 months ago

American Airlines is the latest U.S.-based carrier to ramp up flights to Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic.

American Airlines aircraft parked on runway

With soaring travel numbers and skyrocketing popularity that is only expected to grow, several major North American airlines have announced new routes to the sun-soaked destination in order to meet demand.

American Airlines will operate a total of up to 25 daily flights starting this winter as U.S. travelers set their sights on the tropical island.

A white sand beach with travelers in Punta Cana

Here’s the latest on Punta Cana’s growing international connectivity.

American Airlines To Boost Flight Options For U.S. Travelers

Although the summer vacation period has only just begun, airlines are already announcing their international flight schedules for the winter 2023-2024 season.

November to March is one of the busiest times for travel in the Caribbean, especially in Punta Cana, which welcomes millions of U.S. and Canadian travelers as temperatures dip across North America.

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Punta Cana international airport with aircraft

And with estimates projecting a record-breaking year for travel to the Dominican Republic, airlines across the continent are keen on supplying travelers with new routes and increasing the frequency of existing ones.

American Airlines is the latest U.S.-based carrier to do so, announcing a host of new routes and connections, especially to Punta Cana, the leading resort destination for millions of travelers in the Dominican Republic.

American Airlines aircraft mid-flight with blue sky

Starting in December, American Airlines will increase the frequency of its flights to Punta Cana from the following destinations:

Miami
Charlotte
Dallas/Fort Worth
New York

In doing so, America’s largest airline will operate a total of 85 weekly flights to the Dominican Republic from some of its largest hubs, giving the carrier an important advantage compared to other operators.

Aside from Punta Cana’s winning combination of beach, sun, and lavish resorts, travelers are increasingly traveling to other Dominican resorts and cultural destinations like Puerto Plata and Santiago.

And with demand for those destinations on the rise, American Airlines will fill an important gap in the market. Starting December 5th, the airline will increase the frequency of its Charlotte-Puerto Plata flight from one weekly flight departure to a daily one.

Charlotte will also become an increasingly important transit hub for Punta Cana flights, as American Airlines will begin operating four daily connections as opposed to the current three.

Meanwhile, American Airlines is adding daily departures to Punta Cana from Dallas/Fort Worth starting December 21st, as well as increasing the frequency of New York to Punta Cana departures to two daily flights starting November 5.

Dominican Republic airport with american airlines plane at gate

Miami-based travelers will have greater availability of direct flights to Puerto Plata and Santiago this winter as American Airlines adds another daily flight, bringing the total number of non-stop connections to two per day.

American Airlines will increase its overall passenger capacity by 30% this winter compared to last year, making it one of the largest U.S. carriers in terms of weekly flights to the Dominican Republic, alongside JetBlue.

“For over 47 years, American Airlines has been committed to serving the Dominican Republic, and we are excited to offer our clients a solid network of flights this winter,” said José María Giralado, the airline’s director for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The new flights will become available to travelers starting June 18 on American Airlines’ website, giving Americans plenty of time to start planning their next tropical getaway.

Aside from American Airlines, other North American carriers such as Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines have also expanded the availability of Punta Cana flights. The recently-finished renovation at Punta Cana International Airport is expected to help attract new, larger aircraft, boosting travel numbers and potentially lowering prices.