Get Ready for the Dominican Republic! Air Caraïbes Unleashes Major New Samaná Flights
French Carrier Targets High-Value European Tourists with Direct Routes and Airbus A350 Service
(Paris, France) – Planning a winter escape to the Caribbean just got much easier for travelers in Europe. Air Caraïbes, the French specialist airline, has announced a significant expansion of its service to the Dominican Republic, introducing two new weekly direct flights on the highly sought-after Paris–Samaná route.
This expansion also includes an additional frequency on the existing Paris–Punta Cana route, set to launch before the end of the year, underscoring the airline’s strong commitment to the destination.
Launching Direct Service to Samaná
The new direct route will operate between Paris Orly (ORY) and Samaná El Catey International Airport (AZS). The first new flight is scheduled to take off starting in the 2025/2026 Northern Winter Season, with initial service planned for a weekly flight, increasing to twice weekly from early January to early March 2026. This move directly addresses demand for access to the stunning Samaná Peninsula, a region known for its pristine beaches and whale watching opportunities.
The announcement was officially made during a recent travel trade fair in Paris, where Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado met with Air Caraïbes President Marc Rochet to formalize the new service.
Filling a Critical Gap in European Connectivity
This strategic move is vital for the Dominican Republic’s tourism recovery. The new flights are designed to help fill the gap in direct capacity created after Air France temporarily suspended its direct services to the country in 2023.
Revitalizing air connectivity with France has been a key priority, as French tourists are a lucrative market. Visitors from France generate around $161 million annually and typically stay for an average of 11 days.
“This is a market that we want to reconquer,” Minister Collado stated, expressing confidence that the alliance would help the Dominican Republic reach a target of 250,000 French visitors by 2026.
The airline is already a major player in the region, operating routes to both Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. This expansion will significantly strengthen its existing presence.
Comfort on the Airbus A350
Air Caraïbes confirmed that the new route will be operated using its modern, state-of-the-art Airbus A350 aircraft. This commitment to using modern, efficient, and comfortable long-haul jets ensures a premium transatlantic experience for passengers headed to the Caribbean.
The expansion highlights the successful efforts by the Dominican Republic to work with international carriers to restore and increase flight capacity from critical European source markets.
Conclusion
This strategic investment by Air Caraïbes, providing direct and comfortable access to a less-traveled region like Samaná, is excellent news for both the airline and the Dominican Republic. It marks a significant step toward restoring European tourism to pre-pandemic heights and offers travelers a highly convenient way to explore a new Caribbean hotspot.
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Disclaimer
Flight schedules, routes, and aircraft types are subject to change by the airline. Travelers are advised to check the official Air Caraïbes website for the most current booking and travel information.
