Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica, as well as Mexico and the Dominican Republic, in particular, are emerging as the major beneficiaries of Air Canada’s sidelining of Cuba for air travel.

The island is getting one additional Air Canada flight to Toronto out of Montego Bay starting next Tuesday (February 24). This flight will continue through to April 30.

With thousands of travellers looking to shift their vacations from Cuba to alternative sun destinations, tour operators including Air Canada Vacations and Transat have added capacity to popular getaway spots. 

These extra flights come as prices for sun vacations this winter hit new heights now that Cuba is temporarily sidelined.

Air Transat executive Marie-Eve Vallières is reporting that Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic is proving to be an attractive alternative to Cuba in terms of affordability and quality of services. 

To this extent, the airline has ramped up flights to Dominican tourist havens of Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, starting next month and continuing into April.

Not to be left out is Cancun, Mexico and Pointe-à-Pitre, a resort city on the island of Grande-Terre in Guadeloupe.