This winter, Air Caraïbes will expand its Dominican Republic operations with a new nonstop route between Paris-Orly and Samaná’s El Catey International Airport. The return flight will operate directly to Paris via Santo Domingo.

The French airline also announced two weekly direct flights from Paris to Samaná, bringing its total Dominican Republic connections to 12 weekly services, including routes to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana from Orly Airport in the French capital.

The announcement was made by Marc Rochet, President of Air Caraïbes, and David Collado, Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, during the IFTM Top Resa travel fair held in Paris.

According to Collado, the new flights will connect Paris-Orly to Samaná’s El Catey International Airport (AZS), further strengthening the arrival of French visitors to the peninsula. He also revealed that an additional flight from Punta Cana is expected to be added by December 2025 or January 2026, bringing the total to eight weekly operations on that route.

For the 2025–2026 winter season, Air Caraïbes will operate up to 12 weekly flights to the Dominican Republic:

  • Paris-Orly – Samaná (AZS): two weekly flights (Mondays and Saturdays) starting December 15
  • Paris-Orly – Punta Cana (PUJ): seven weekly flights (daily service beginning December 12)
  • Paris-Orly – Santo Domingo (SDQ): three weekly flights

Already operating in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, Air Caraïbes becomes the only French airline offering such extensive coverage across the Dominican Republic. The carrier also allows travelers to combine multiple destinations within the country through its multi-stop flight options — for instance, beginning a trip in Samaná amid lush nature, continuing to Santo Domingo to explore the colonial heritage, and flying directly back to Paris-Orly.

Minister Collado highlighted the strategic importance of linking France with Samaná, noting that Las Terrenas has become one of the most appealing destinations for the French market, alongside Punta Cana.

Hugues Heddebault, Commercial Director of Air Caraïbes, emphasized:

“This new route reflects our deep bond with the Dominican Republic, a destination we’ve proudly served for over 13 years. With Samaná, we continue our mission to be more than an airline — a true bridge between France and the Caribbean, offering a modern travel experience true to our Caribbean spirit.”

“Each of these flights carries nearly 400 passengers, which means Air Caraïbes could transport around 100,000 travelers to the Dominican Republic in 2026”

David Collado

He added that, following the recently signed partnership with Air France, the country is well positioned to exceed the projected 226,000 French tourists expected in 2026. The Minister also highlighted that winter season bookings with Air Caraïbes are already above 80% capacity, signaling strong demand.

“From December through April, reservation numbers and projections are extremely positive, reflecting the market’s confidence in our destination,” he emphasized.

Support from Asonahores

Juan “Papo” Bancalari, president of the Dominican Republic Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores), highlighted that the launch of direct flights from Paris to Samaná, with two weekly frequencies, marks a major boost for tourism in the country’s northeast, particularly for Las Terrenas—a favorite destination for French travelers both for vacations and investment.

He explained that these flights will have a multiplier effect for the region, as Samaná will serve as a gateway connecting visitors to the entire northern coastline. “These are wide-body aircraft with a capacity of over 600 passengers, translating to roughly 3,000 monthly visitors,” Bancalari said, noting that Canadian airlines currently dominate the region’s air traffic.

The executive emphasized that the French market adds a unique dynamism to the local economy, not only through hotel occupancy but also via investments in restaurants, travel agencies, villas, and boutique hotels. “French travelers integrate into community life, and this new connection brings a generation that helps sustain tourism and strengthens social cohesion in the region,” he added.

Ticket information

Air Caraïbes tickets are now available through all official distribution channels and partner travel agencies. Launch fares are:

  • Soleil Class (Economy): from €549 round-trip (taxes included)
  • Caraïbes Class (Premium Economy): from €999 round-trip (taxes included)
  • Madras Class (Business): from €1,999 round-trip (taxes included)

For the 2025-2026 winter season, Air Caraïbes will operate up to 12 weekly flights to the Dominican Republic, including:

  • Paris-Orly – Samaná: 2 weekly flights starting December 15 (Mondays and Saturdays)
  • Paris-Orly – Punta Cana: 7 weekly flights starting December 12 (daily)
  • Paris-Orly – Santo Domingo: 3 weekly flights

Source: www.arecoa.com , hoy.com.do