WINNIPEG, Canada — WestJet will introduce new weekly nonstop service between Winnipeg and Punta Cana for the 2026 winter travel season, expanding direct air connectivity between Manitoba and one of the Dominican Republic’s leading resort destinations.
The new Punta Cana route is scheduled to begin on November 28, 2026, with one weekly flight operating from Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG). WestJet also announced a separate weekly route from Winnipeg to Belize City, set to launch on December 14, 2026.
The additions are expected to provide Manitoba travelers with more direct options for warm-weather vacations during Canada’s winter months, while supporting visitor arrivals to Punta Cana’s tourism corridor.
“The Winnipeg Airport Authority is pleased to see WestJet offering even more opportunities for travelers to head somewhere warm this winter,” said Nick Hays, President and CEO of the Winnipeg Airport Authority, in a statement.
Hays said the airport authority remains focused on increasing access to destinations that matter to Manitoba travelers and welcomed WestJet’s role in strengthening connectivity at YWG Airport.
The Punta Cana service adds to the region’s seasonal international airlift, offering Canadian travelers a direct connection to the Dominican Republic’s eastern coast, known for its all-inclusive resorts, beaches, golf courses and growing residential tourism market.
