Escape Winter With These New Canadian Sun Routes

December 29, 2025

New direct flights are expanding winter escape options across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

As winter settles in, Canadian travellers have more reasons than ever to look south. Over the past few months — and with a few more routes launching imminently — airlines have rolled out a wave of new sun destinations from Canadian airports, expanding nonstop access to beach favourites, cultural capitals and resort regions across Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

This winter’s flight network that goes well beyond the usual snowbird routes, with new options departing not just from Toronto and Montreal, but from cities like Ottawa and Halifax as well.

Porter Airlines Brings Sun Flying to Ottawa and Toronto

Porter Airlines has made one of the most notable moves this season, launching a slate of new winter sun routes that significantly expand leisure travel options from Eastern Canada.

From Ottawa, travellers now have direct access to several warm-weather destinations that previously required connections. New nonstop flights link the capital to Nassau and Grand Cayman in the Caribbean, as well as Cancún and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and Liberia in Costa Rica — a gateway to the country’s Pacific beaches and national parks.

Porter has also added similar sun routes from Toronto Pearson, offering nonstop service to the same mix of Caribbean and Mexican destinations, along with Costa Rica. For travellers accustomed to long layovers or indirect routings, these flights represent a meaningful upgrade in convenience — particularly for winter getaways and family travel.

WestJet Expands Access to the Caribbean and Beyond

WestJet is also leaning into winter sun demand with new seasonal routes that broaden access to the Caribbean and Latin America. A new nonstop flight from Toronto to Havana opens the door to Cuba’s capital, pairing culture, history and nearby beach escapes in a single destination.

Out west, WestJet has expanded its Latin American footprint with new seasonal service from Calgary to destinations in Mexico and Central America, reinforcing the city’s role as a major western gateway for sun travel. These additions complement the airline’s already extensive winter schedule and reflect continued interest in destinations that offer more than just beach time.

Air Canada Grows Its Winter Sun Network

Air Canada has rounded out the season with a broad expansion of its winter schedule, adding new and seasonal routes across the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America. Canadian travellers now have direct access to destinations such as Martinique, Jamaica and the Bahamas from a wider range of departure cities, along with new links to South American hubs and cultural centres.

This expanded network reflects a growing appetite for longer, experience-driven winter trips — whether that means pairing beaches with food and culture, or exploring destinations that feel less familiar than the classic all-inclusive circuit.

What This Means for Your Winter Travel

These new routes signal a shift in how Canadians travel south for the winter. More nonstop flights reduce travel time and friction, while a broader mix of destinations makes it easier to tailor trips around personal interests — from surf and wellness in Costa Rica to culture-forward city breaks in the Caribbean.

Maybe most notably, travellers departing from cities beyond Canada’s largest hubs now have better access to winter sun than ever before. For anyone looking to trade snow boots for sandals this season, the options have never looked brighter.

Porter Airlines is Launching Five New Sun Routes

December 16, 2025

Just in time for winter getaways, the airline is adding five direct routes from Ottawa to Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica.

Winter travellers departing from Ottawa now have more direct options for escaping the cold, thanks to a new slate of nonstop sun routes launching this season. Beginning mid-December, Porter Airlines is rolling out five direct flights from Ottawa International Airport to popular warm-weather destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, eliminating the need for connections through Toronto or Montreal.

The new routes link Ottawa with Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Nassau, Liberia (Costa Rica) and Grand Cayman, offering access to a mix of beach destinations, resort hubs and nature-focused escapes. For travellers in the National Capital Region, the expansion marks a notable shift: nonstop international leisure flights from Ottawa have historically been limited, often requiring a layover even for mainstream sun destinations.

Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Nassau begin December 13, followed by Cancun and Liberia on December 17, and Grand Cayman on December 19. Service frequencies range from weekly to daily, depending on the destination, allowing for both long-stay vacations and shorter winter breaks.

The addition of Liberia is particularly noteworthy for travellers drawn to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, cloud forests and national parks, while Grand Cayman becomes accessible nonstop from Ottawa for the first time. Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, long-time Canadian favourites, offer a choice between laid-back coastal towns and large-scale resort infrastructure, while Nassau provides easy access to both Paradise Island resorts and the broader Out Islands.

A smoother winter travel experience

All five routes are operated using Porter’s Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, configured in a two-by-two seating layout with no middle seats. For travellers accustomed to crowded winter flights, that detail alone may be appealing. Complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, premium Canadian snacks and free Wi-Fi are also part of the onboard experience, though the real draw for most passengers will be the time saved by flying nonstop.

From a planning perspective, the new routes make Ottawa a more practical starting point for winter travel, especially for families or travellers who prefer to avoid early-morning connections or overnight airport stays. The expansion also aligns with a broader trend among Canadian airports to strengthen point-to-point international service rather than funnelling travellers exclusively through major hubs.

What this means for travellers

For residents of Ottawa and eastern Ontario — as well as parts of western Quebec — the new flights reduce travel friction at one of the busiest times of year. Instead of budgeting extra hours for connections or overnight layovers, travellers can head directly south, often arriving the same day with minimal disruption.

The routes also provide flexibility in travel style. A weeklong all-inclusive stay in Cancun or Nassau can be paired with shorter, more experience-driven trips to Costa Rica or Mexico’s Pacific coast, where eco-lodges, surf towns and boutique hotels dominate. Grand Cayman, meanwhile, appeals to travellers seeking calm beaches, excellent diving and a quieter Caribbean rhythm.

These new sun routes join Porter’s expanding winter schedule from Ottawa, which already includes nonstop service to several Florida cities. Additional destinations, including Miami and Phoenix, are expected to come online in 2026, further broadening Ottawa’s direct access to warm-weather travel during the colder months.