Air Canada begins scheduled service into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
from Toronto, Canada this coming Sunday, 26 October. The flight marks the return
of the Canadian carrier to the Dominican Republic. Air Canada first serviced the
DR in 1986 with flights from Toronto to Puerto Plata and Las Americas. Service
to the DR (SDQ) was suspended in late 1988 and shortly after scheduled service
was discontinued to Puerto Plata (POP).
Since 2001, Air Canada Vacations, the airline?s tour operator subsidiary, had
been operating charter flights to the DR. The success of the flights, and the
surge in Canadian traveler demand spurred the restart of the flights to the DR.
The airline?s Montreal-Punta Cana charter flight, will become scheduled service
starting 1 November, twice weekly winter season departures (Fri and Sat/Sun),
with year-round Sunday departures effective 21 December 2003. The airline also
announces that its Toronto-Puerto Plata charter will also become scheduled
service starting 1 November, with twice weekly service on Wednesdays and
Saturday departures, with year-round Saturday departures effective 1 November.
The airline is overall adding 68 more non-stop flights per week this winter to
the Caribbean from Canada, or 37% more seats than last winter.