Travel to Jamaica takes off with 22% boost in winter air capacity from Canada
Summertime travel from Canada to Jamaica was already hot, representing an 8% increase in Canadian visitors last month alone, but things are about to heat up even more for the upcoming winter season.
“Our winter capacity for winter 2026 will be up 22% over the last winter. There will be a total of about 365,000 seats flown to Jamaica for the winter compared to 293,000 last winter. We’re really happy with the show of support by our partners,” Donovan White, director of tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board shared last night at an event in Toronto.
White highlighted that Flair Airlines will launch nonstop service between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montego Bay (MBJ) on December 14. The new year-round service marks the airline’s second destination in Jamaica after Kingston, with the route going up to daily service during the peak holiday period.
“Here’s the kicker–with fares starting as low as $189!” he exclaimed.
As for a new gateway, WestJet will debut non-stop weekly flights from Quebec City (YQB) to Montego Bay (MBJ), starting on December 6.
“That is something we are extremely happy with. It’s been one of those hard-worked negotiations that took myself and Angella [Bennett, director, Canada of the JTB] the better part of 2.5 years to make it happen,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Air Canada will also open up routes from Ottawa and Halifax to Montego Bay.
“The big picture, this will be the headline that we will put on a billboard somewhere in the city very soon, is that out of Toronto to Jamaica there’s 10 flights per week,” he revealed. “There’s absolutely no reason not to sell Jamaica and fill those planes to Jamaica.”
When asked by TravelPressToday if additional lift plans with Porter Airlines were also in the air, White joked, “You want me to talk about my trade secrets?” But admitted, “we’ve had some fantastic relationship conversations with them and there is more to come in that space.”
5,500 new rooms coming online in the next three-to-five years
Things are also heating up in the accommodation sector with close to 5,500 new rooms coming online in the next three to five years. UNICO will open its first hotel in the English-speaking Caribbean in Montego Bay in March 2026, with 435 rooms. Adjacent to that, the company is set to break ground soon on a Hard Rock Hotel, with more than 1,000 rooms.
Next door to those properties, ground has already been broken on a Moon Palace Hotel development, which is set to become the tallest building in the Caribbean at 34 storeys. The property will feature some 1,200 suites and overwater bungalows.
Other hotel developments include a massive renovation of the family side of the Bahia Principe resort by 2026, along with expansion plans. The former Jewel Paradise Cove in Runaway Bay is undergoing a complete redevelopment into the new Royalton CHIC Jamaica Paradise Cove, expected to open in late 2026.
Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts is also adding more than 948 new rooms to its property in Hanover with renderings indicating that the project will have overwater villas.
Secrets Resorts is also growing its footprint in Jamaica with a new property in St. Ann. Meanwhile, Footeprints was recently renovated to become a more upscale boutique hotel.
“There’s lots of development happening in Jamaica,” he added. “Princess Hotels, which opened last December, will open its and Jamaica’s first casino in December of this year.”
White puts Jamaica’s current total room stock to 35,000 rooms.
“We remain committed to being Canada’s favourite Caribbean destination, not just for beaches and weather, though it seems to be the main attraction, but for the genuine connection and the lasting relationships that we’ve built.”
Meanwhile, Bennett highlighted the importance of the Canadian market.
“Jamaica and Canada’s tourism partnership continues to reach new heights,” she shared. “Year after year, Canada consistently ranks as one of Jamaica’s top three source markets but numbers only tell you part of the story. Canadian visitors don’t just come to Jamaica, they connect with our people, they return year-after-year. They bring their families to our shores and they become genuine ambassadors.”
Last night the JTB announced that the Weber Shandwick team based in Toronto and Montreal have been selected as the new PR agency for Jamaica in Canada.
Seen in the top photo are the JTB’s Fiona Fennell, global PR and communications manager; Dan Hamilton, district sales manager, Canada; Angella Bennett, director, Canada and Donovan White, director of tourism.
