Columbus sun seekers are finally getting a straight shot to the beach. Breeze Airways will begin seasonal nonstop flights from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in January 2027. The twice-weekly winter service will be the first nonstop Caribbean destination out of Columbus and adds to the city’s growing roster of international routes. For Central Ohio travelers, that means simpler winter getaways without a connection through a major coastal hub.
As first reported by Columbus Business First, Breeze's new route is slated to start in 2027 and marks the carrier's expanding presence at CMH with its first international offering from John Glenn Columbus. The announcement follows other recent service additions to the airport and was confirmed to local media by airline representatives. Details about aircraft type and flight frequency beyond the initial season were not disclosed in the Business First report.
The Columbus Dispatch reported the flights will operate seasonally on Mondays and Fridays beginning Jan. 8, 2027, with introductory fares starting at $179, Breeze spokeswoman Ryne Williams told the paper. Lukas Johnson, Breeze's chief commercial officer, told The Dispatch that Punta Cana was selected because it is a popular Caribbean destination and because CMH’s traffic has grown enough to support leisure service. "During the winter periods, people want to get out and get to some of those beautiful all-inclusives," Johnson said in the story.
According to Columbus Regional Airport Authority documents, airport traffic has been climbing. The board materials note more than 4.68 million enplanements and about 9.36 million total passengers across Columbus airports in 2025, and rank CMH among the fastest-growing large airports for scheduled flight growth. Airport officials say that rising demand and recent route gains helped make international leisure markets a logical next step.
Flight details and booking
Breeze says tickets will be sold through its usual channels, with availability and fares subject to change as the carrier finalizes schedules. The airline’s website currently lists Columbus among its served cities and will post booking details when schedules are live. For booking updates and fare notices, see Breeze.
Breeze's international push
The Columbus announcement fits into a wider international expansion that Breeze has been rolling out since late 2025 and into 2026. In a press release via GlobeNewswire, the airline outlined new services to Punta Cana, Cancun, and San Jose and framed the moves as part of its launch into international markets. That broader strategy has already introduced seasonal international links from other U.S. cities and gives Breeze room to test demand out of secondary airports like CMH.
If the plan holds, Columbus travelers will have a direct path to one of the Caribbean’s busiest resort hubs beginning in winter 2027, cutting out the extra stop at coastal airports. The route’s performance will depend on winter demand, fuel and fare dynamics, and Breeze’s broader schedule choices for the season.
