A bad weather day in Ohio is a lot easier to get through when there’s a nonstop flight to the Caribbean waiting for you.
Beginning January 8, 2027, Breeze Airways will launch seasonal nonstop service between John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Punta Cana, making it easier than it’s been in years for Central Ohio travelers to swap snow boots for flip-flops.
The new route will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays through March 22, giving travelers a direct option to one of the Dominican Republic’s best-known beach destinations during the heart of Ohio’s winter.
If Punta Cana has been on your travel wish list, it’s easy to see why. The area is famous for its miles of white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, sprawling all-inclusive resorts, and warm tropical weather that hovers in the 80s while Ohio is scraping ice off windshields.
According to the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, this marks the first nonstop service from Columbus to Punta Cana in more than a decade.
“For the first time in more than a decade, Columbus travelers can skip the layover and fly directly to one of the world’s most beautiful vacation spots,” Columbus Regional Airport Authority President and CEO Daren Griffin said in a statement.
While Punta Cana has earned its reputation for luxury resorts and postcard-worthy beaches, there’s plenty to explore beyond the sand.
Visitors can swim in hidden freshwater cenotes, zipline through tropical forests, take buggy tours into the countryside, visit nearby fishing villages, or spend a day on the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
Of course, if your vacation plans involve doing absolutely nothing except finding the perfect beach chair, Punta Cana is pretty good at that too.
The announcement is another sign that Columbus travelers are getting more nonstop options than ever before.
Breeze, which celebrates five years at John Glenn this summer, now serves 14 nonstop destinations from Columbus, with new flights to Savannah and Tampa launching later this year.
It also comes just weeks after another major Caribbean announcement. Southwest Airlines recently revealed it will begin nonstop service between Columbus and San Juan, Puerto Rico, in early 2027.
READ MORE: One Of Columbus’ Most Requested Flight Destinations Is Finally Getting A Nonstop Route
Taken together, the two new routes represent a noticeable shift for John Glenn International Airport.
For years, many Caribbean vacations meant connecting through cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, or Orlando before finally reaching the beach. Soon, Columbus travelers will have direct flights to both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, making winter escapes a little simpler.
More information about Breeze Airways’ new Punta Cana service is available through Breeze Airways and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
