▶ Copa Airlines to Resume Flights to Santiago and Launch New Route to Puerto Plata in January 2026, Announces Tourism Minister

The Panamanian airline Copa Airlines will resume flights to Santiago de los Caballeros and launch a new route to Puerto Plata in January 2026, as announced this Wednesday by the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado, via the social media platform X.

Connecting America with Santiago and Puerto Plata via Panama

According to the minister, starting January 13 and 15, 2026, Copa Airlines will operate three weekly flights to Puerto Plata and three weekly flights to Santiago, using Boeing 737 aircraft with a capacity of 166 passengers. This expansion will not only increase the number of available seats but also significantly improve transportation options for tourists and business travelers from North, Central, and South America to these two important Dominican cities.

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¡¡Buenas noticias para Santiago y Puerto Plata!! A partir del 13 y 15 de enero del próximo año, Copa tendrá 6 vuelos nuevos semanales desde Panamá: tres semanales Panamá-Puerto Plata y tres semanales Panamá-Santiago, con aviones Boeing 737 de 166 plazas aproximadamente. Con estos…
— David Collado (@DavidColladoM) July 2, 2025

These new routes will complement the airline’s existing services to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, where it currently operates 31 and 56 weekly flights, respectively.

Impact on Regional Air Connectivity

The addition of Santiago and Puerto Plata to Copa Airlines’ flight network is part of a broader plan by the Dominican government to decentralize tourism and promote economic development in the country’s northern regions. This initiative aims to diversify entry points to the Dominican Republic, creating new opportunities for travelers to explore the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cibao region and the country’s northern coast.