Jamaica adds 5,000 seats as Air Canada and Porter expand nonstop routes

Porter and Air Canada expand Montego Bay airlift

Jamaica is adding nonstop flights from Canada and the UK as part of a roughly $5 billion tourism and hotel investment push, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said at the 2026 Caribbean Travel Marketplace. The expansion targets Montego Bay, Kingston and St Mary, with new airline routes and frequencies running through the winter peak.

Porter Airlines will launch direct service to Montego Bay from Toronto Pearson, Ottawa and Hamilton, adding nearly 5,000 seats for the winter season, with flights scheduled to start around Nov. 23, 2026. Air Canada has already added weekly Ottawa-Montego Bay flights starting Dec. 7, 2025 through April 12, 2026 and weekly Halifax-Montego Bay service from Dec. 4, 2025 through April 9, 2026. Toronto-Montego Bay rises to 10 flights per week and Montreal-Montego Bay to four. Edmonton and Winnipeg seasonal nonstops to Montego Bay follow Dec. 7, 2026 through early April 2027.

From the UK, capacity is growing through Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow, Norse from London Gatwick and TUI from London, Manchester and Birmingham, the Ministry of Tourism said. Jamaica recorded a 15.4% jump in airlift capacity in 2023, with more than 4.1 million airline seats and an 83.5% average load factor.

Who benefits from the new routes

Canadian travelers from secondary cities gain nonstops that previously required routing through Toronto or US hubs. Jamaica welcomed about 375,000 Canadian tourists in 2023, a 39% increase over the prior year.

Long-stay visitors and remote workers splitting time between Jamaica and Canada or the UK get more direct options and competition that can ease fares in peak months. Bartlett also outlined a pipeline of 15,000 to 20,000 new hotel rooms over the next five to 10 years, broadening serviced apartment and extended-stay choices.

Booking and entry details

The new routes don't change Jamaica's entry rules. Canadian and UK citizens generally enter visa-free for short tourist stays, with a valid passport, return ticket and proof of funds.

Stays beyond the period granted on arrival require an extension through the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), which charges a separate fee. Remote workers employed locally may need a work permit, regardless of airline or route.

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