Canada to the Caribbean has long been big business, and few routes illustrate that better than the air bridge between Toronto, Montreal and Punta Cana. What is changing now is who is competing for your ticket. Dominican low cost carrier Arajet has joined the likes of Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines in targeting North American travelers looking for affordable getaways to the Dominican Republic, including newly launched routes from Toronto and Montreal to Punta Cana. For Canadian travelers, and for Americans who connect through those hubs, that means more choice, more pricing pressure and new ways to build a winter sun escape without breaking the bank.
Arajet’s Quiet Canadian Breakthrough
Arajet may still be a new name for many North American travelers, but the Dominican carrier has moved quickly since its launch in 2022. Initially focused on building a network out of Santo Domingo, it has steadily expanded across the Americas, and has now established Punta Cana as a second hub. As part of that expansion, Arajet introduced direct flights from Toronto and Montreal to Punta Cana, tapping directly into one of the most important outbound tourism markets for the Dominican Republic: Canada.
The new services from Canada were rolled out as part of a broader plan to “democratize the skies” between the Americas, with Punta Cana positioned as both a beach destination and a connecting hub. Tickets from Toronto to Punta Cana have been promoted at round trip prices in the mid 300 US dollar range before extras, according to recent fare examples, placing Arajet firmly in low cost territory on a route that traditionally has seen hefty seasonal spikes.
From Montreal, Arajet has been advertising promotional round trip fares between roughly 380 and 450 US dollars for selected November dates in 2026, underlining the carrier’s strategy of keeping base prices aggressively low while charging separately for extras such as seat selection and baggage. For travelers realistic about what a bare bones fare includes, that opens a new budget option between Quebec and the beaches of Bavaro.
How These New Routes Fit into a Crowded Punta Cana Market
Toronto and Montreal are hardly strangers to Punta Cana. Nonstop schedules between Toronto Pearson and Punta Cana already feature multiple Canadian airlines operating up to five carriers on the route, with flight times around four hours and fifty minutes. The addition of Arajet means passengers now see a growing mix of legacy and ultra low cost options on a corridor that has traditionally been dominated by package tour operators and full service brands.
From Punta Cana back to Toronto, public schedules now show Arajet alongside Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet and Flair Airlines on nonstop legs, signaling that the Dominican carrier has taken its place among well established Canadian names on one of the Caribbean’s busiest leisure routes. For independent travelers who do not want to buy a full package through a tour operator, that extra competition matters. It introduces more flexibility in dates, one way pricing and mix and match itineraries that were harder to construct when most capacity was locked inside charter blocks.
Montreal is following a similar pattern. Arajet’s Montreal to Punta Cana flights complement existing services operated by Canadian and Caribbean airlines, but with a distinctly low cost approach. For Quebec travelers specifically, that nudges the market toward more transparent base pricing and more frequent promotional sales, something that historically has been concentrated in the hands of just a few big players.
Where Delta, American, United and Southwest Fit In
While Arajet’s move into Canada to Punta Cana flying is the headline for Canadian travelers, the broader story is the growing competition created by North American giants. Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest do not operate nonstop flights from Toronto and Montreal to Punta Cana in the same way Arajet or Canadian carriers do. Instead, they connect Canadian travelers to Punta Cana through their United States hubs, with itineraries that typically involve a change of planes in cities such as New York, Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston or Chicago.
Delta funnels much of its Punta Cana traffic through hubs like Atlanta and New York, offering year round and peak seasonal services to the Dominican Republic. American Airlines uses Miami and Charlotte as key Caribbean gateways and has an especially dense schedule into the Dominican Republic from Florida, where connections from Canada can be fast and frequent. United brings Punta Cana into its network from hubs like Newark, Houston and Chicago, while Southwest adds a strong presence from Florida and other southern states into Caribbean leisure markets.
For Canadian travelers willing to route via the United States, this means that the entrance of Arajet does not replace but rather complements long standing one stop options on American carriers. More competition on Punta Cana flights to and from those U.S. hubs also benefits Canadian passengers who connect onward, because pricing out of gateways like Newark or Miami is influenced by the presence of both the big three U.S. airlines and a growing roster of low cost challengers including Arajet.
What “Affordable” Really Means on These Routes
When airlines advertise affordable fares, the details matter. On traditional legacy carriers such as Delta, American, United and in many cases Air Canada, the cheapest economy or basic economy tickets usually include at least a personal item and carry on, and sometimes a checked bag on certain international routes. Seat selection, changes and refundability often come at an extra cost, but onboard service still tends to include snacks and soft drinks, especially on international legs into the Caribbean.
Arajet operates on a stricter low cost model. Promotional fares on routes such as Punta Cana to Montreal and Punta Cana to Toronto are designed to be visually striking, with base prices undercutting many competitors. However, those prices generally do not include extras such as checked baggage, advanced seat selection or flexible changes. Travelers used to all inclusive vacation packages that come bundled with generous baggage allowances need to read the fine print before comparing deals purely on the headline price.
For a typical Canadian traveler heading to Punta Cana for a week, the end price will depend on how much luggage you bring, how important it is to preselect seats and whether you are willing to travel with only a personal item or small carry on. If you can pack light, Arajet can prove substantially cheaper than traditional carriers or charter packages. If you need multiple checked bags or want maximum flexibility, a fare on Delta, American, United or a Canadian airline routed through a U.S. or domestic hub could end up closer in total cost than it first appears.
Network Effects: Connecting Beyond Punta Cana
One of the less obvious advantages of Arajet’s presence from Toronto and Montreal is the opportunity for connections beyond Punta Cana. Arajet has built a network that links its Dominican hubs with destinations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, including cities such as Buenos Aires, Lima, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Kingston, San Juan and others. Canadian travelers flying into Punta Cana on Arajet can, in many cases, connect onward on the same carrier to these secondary destinations without having to route north through the United States or Europe.
This is particularly attractive for travelers interested in multi country itineraries. A Canadian couple might, for example, fly Arajet from Montreal to Punta Cana, spend several days on the beach, then continue on the same ticket to Bogotá or Mexico City, returning home on a different route. That kind of triangle itinerary can be complex and costly on legacy networks. On a low cost carrier with a hub in Punta Cana, it suddenly becomes a mainstream option, with pricing aligned more closely to regional point to point travel.
The major United States carriers also offer impressive network reach, but mostly in a different pattern. Booking through Delta, American, United or Southwest often lines you up for connections through U.S. hubs into secondary Caribbean islands or Central American cities. For travelers who already hold U.S. visas and are comfortable with transiting American airports, these itineraries can be very efficient. Arajet offers a competing model, centered on staying entirely within the Americas outside the United States, something that appeals to travelers who prefer to avoid extra immigration formalities or potential delays at U.S. borders.
Practical Impacts on Your Travel Planning
For anyone planning a trip from Toronto or Montreal to Punta Cana in 2026, the addition of Arajet changes the way you might approach your search. Instead of starting solely with Canadian airlines or package tour operators, it is now worthwhile to compare point to point fares on Arajet alongside fares on Delta, American, United and Southwest that route through their hubs. Look at total travel time, including layovers, as well as the fully loaded price once baggage, seat selection and fees are included.
The timing of flights also affects your vacation experience. Nonstop flights from Toronto Pearson or Montreal Trudeau to Punta Cana typically depart in the morning or early afternoon to arrive in the Caribbean before evening, giving you at least part of your arrival day on the beach. Arajet’s schedules are tailored to connect efficiently into its Punta Cana hub, which can mean departures that suit both local origin passengers and those connecting in. That can be more comfortable than red eye connections through far flung hubs.
For American travelers, particularly those in the northeast and Midwest, the story is slightly different. Arajet’s expansion into U.S. gateways such as Miami, Orlando, New York, Boston and Chicago adds yet another carrier offering direct access to Punta Cana from key cities. If you are based in or near those hubs, you now have a choice between local U.S. carriers and a Dominican low cost airline when booking winter sun escapes. That extra capacity helps keep fares in check during peak times such as Christmas, New Year and spring break.
Tips for Making the Most of the New Competition
To really benefit from the extra competition on these routes, you need to be proactive. Compare airlines across different days of the week, because low cost carriers like Arajet often operate on specific days rather than daily on every route. If your dates are flexible by even one or two days, you may find significantly lower fares on the days Arajet flies between Punta Cana and your Canadian gateway. Build your vacation dates around those cheaper flights when possible.
Keep in mind that low cost carriers tend to charge more for extras if you wait until the airport to purchase them. If you know you will need a checked bag or specific seat, purchase it during or soon after booking to lock in more reasonable fees. On the flip side, if you are used to flying American, Delta, United or other full service airlines, be sure to check whether checked bags are actually included on your chosen fare class on flights to the Dominican Republic, as basic economy products have become increasingly restrictive.
Finally, consider travel insurance and fare flexibility. On long haul and multi leg itineraries, the cheapest ticket is not always the best if plans change or disruptions occur. Arajet, like many low cost airlines, typically has more rigid change and refund rules. Major U.S. and Canadian carriers may offer more flexibility at slightly higher prices, especially when you buy standard or flexible economy fares. When weighing up Arajet against Delta, American, United or Southwest, factor in your personal tolerance for risk and your likelihood of needing to alter your trip.
The Bottom Line for Travelers from Toronto, Montreal and Beyond
The entry of Arajet into the Toronto and Montreal to Punta Cana market is part of a broader shift in Caribbean aviation. Dominican authorities have encouraged competition, and low cost carriers are responding by launching new hubs, new routes and new fare structures that chip away at the old model of bundled charter packages. For Canadian travelers, this means more direct choices to Punta Cana than ever before, and an opportunity to hand pick the components of a trip to fit individual budgets and preferences.
At the same time, Delta, American, United and Southwest continue to expand and refine their own Caribbean offerings from U.S. hubs, giving both Americans and connecting Canadians a robust mix of one stop options into Punta Cana and beyond. The interplay between these big legacy networks and a rising Dominican low cost player should keep downward pressure on prices, especially outside absolute peak holiday dates.
If you are planning a Punta Cana getaway in the months ahead, the best strategy is to treat Arajet as a serious new contender, not a niche carrier. Put its fares and schedules alongside those of U.S. and Canadian airlines, evaluate your true door to door costs and comfort level, and then choose the combination that works best for you. The net result of all this competition is simple: more ways to get from Toronto and Montreal to the turquoise waters of the Dominican Republic at prices that would have been much harder to find just a few years ago.