Canadian airlift to Jamaica set to reach 400,000 winter seats

Jamaica expects approximately 400,000 airline seats from Canada during the 2026-2027 winter season as carriers expand service to the destination.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) said the capacity includes expanded service from Air Canada, Sunwing and WestJet, along with new nonstop service from Porter Airlines.

The additional capacity will provide more frequencies and direct routes from Canadian gateways to Jamaica’s two major airports.

“This expanded airlift from Canada is a direct vote of trust and confidence in Jamaica’s tourism product and in the strength of our partnerships with Air Canada, Sunwing, WestJet and now Porter Airlines,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism.

Canada is Jamaica’s second-largest source market and remains one of the destination’s top-performing markets, according to the JTB.

Under its Tourism 3.0 framework, Jamaica aims to attract 600,000 annual visitors from Canada and generate US$750 million in tourism revenue from the market by 2030.

“Reaching 600,000 annual visitors and US$750 million in earnings from Canada by 2030 requires the kind of sustained airlift growth we are seeing today,” said Donovan White, director of tourism.

Porter’s new service will join flights operated by Air Canada, Flair Airlines, Air Transat, Caribbean Airlines and WestJet this winter.

The JTB said it is working with airline partners, travel advisors and tour operators to turn the additional capacity into sustained visitor growth.

Its Canadian markets include Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax, Moncton, St. John, Winnipeg and Hamilton.

“The expanded winter airlift builds on Jamaica’s broader strategy of diversifying and strengthening airlift across its top source markets, reinforcing the destination’s resilience and positioning within a competitive global tourism landscape,” said Angella Bennett, regional director, Canada, Jamaica Tourist Board.

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