July 22, 2026
Airline NewsWestJet's Winter 2026–27 Sun Routes: Punta Cana, Los Cabos, Belize, Mérida & Liberia
WestJet is leaning hard into sun travel this winter, and its latest announcement is a good example of why. The airline is adding five new nonstop winter 2026-27 routes to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, and instead of piling them all onto its big hubs, it is spreading the new service across smaller Canadian gateways like Winnipeg, Regina, and Ottawa.
Here is a full breakdown of every new winter route and why a few of them are worth getting excited about.
Header Image Source: Boeing Canada.
Winter 2026–2027: Five New Nonstops to the Sun
The fares below are the cheapest round trips I could find as of July 22, 2026. Prices move a lot, especially the closer we get to each launch date, so treat these as a snapshot rather than a promise.
Punta Cana (Winnipeg to Punta Cana)
Operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 Passenger
From $683 CAD round trip. See current fares →
Price as of July 22, 2026. Prices will fluctuate as the launch date gets closer.
Punta Cana is the anchor of the Dominican Republic's resort coast and one of the most dependable all-inclusive winter escapes going. Long stretches of white sand, warm water, and a huge concentration of resorts make it an easy first pick for travellers who want the beach handed to them with no planning required.
A nonstop from Winnipeg is the real story here. Manitoba travellers have long had to connect through Toronto or Calgary to reach the Caribbean, so a direct weekly flight cuts a full day of travel out of the equation. Air Canada also flies nonstop between Winnipeg and Punta Cana once a week from December 2026 through April 2027, so travellers out of YWG will have two carriers to compare.
Los Cabos (Regina to San José del Cabo)
Operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 Passenger and Boeing 737
From $729 CAD round trip. See current fares →
Price as of July 22, 2026. Prices will fluctuate as the launch date gets closer.
Los Cabos sits at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja peninsula, where the desert runs straight into the ocean. It pairs polished resort luxury with rugged scenery, and it has quietly become one of the country's most popular winter destinations.
For Regina, a nonstop to a marquee sun destination is a big deal. Saskatchewan travellers rarely see direct service to somewhere like this, so a weekly flight straight to the beach is a notable upgrade. No other airline currently flies this route nonstop, so WestJet has it to itself.
Belize City (Winnipeg to Belize City)
Operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 Passenger
From $663 CAD round trip. See current fares →
Price as of July 22, 2026. Prices will fluctuate as the launch date gets closer.
Belize is one of the more underrated announcements in this batch. It is the gateway to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, along with rainforest, Mayan ruins, and the laid-back island vibe of the cayes. English is the official language, which makes it an easy landing spot for first-time visitors to Central America.
Direct Canadian service to Belize is rare, so a nonstop from Winnipeg opens up a destination that usually requires connecting through the United States. No other airline flies this route nonstop, so WestJet has it to itself.
Mérida (Calgary to Mérida)
Operated by the Boeing 737
From $866 CAD round trip. See current fares →
Price as of July 22, 2026. Prices will fluctuate as the launch date gets closer.
Mérida is the standout of the group. The capital of Mexico's Yucatán is a colourful colonial city and the natural base for exploring cenotes, Mayan sites like Chichen Itza, and the Gulf coast. It is known as one of the safest cities in Mexico, and it offers a more cultural, less resort-driven trip than the usual sun spots.
This is also the most significant route on the list for one simple reason: WestJet says it will be the only airline connecting Mérida with western Canada. No other airline flies this route nonstop, so if you are flying out of the west, this is a nonstop with no equivalent anywhere else.
Liberia, Costa Rica (Ottawa to Liberia)
Operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 Passenger
From $547 CAD round trip. See current fares →
Price as of July 22, 2026. Prices will fluctuate as the launch date gets closer.
Liberia is the gateway to Costa Rica's Guanacaste region, home to some of the best beaches on the Pacific coast along with the country's famous national parks and eco-lodges. It is the ideal entry point for travellers who want to mix beach time with wildlife and rainforest.
This nonstop from Ottawa gives travellers in the capital region another direct line to Central America, with a second carrier now on the route instead of just one. Porter Airlines also flies nonstop between Ottawa and Liberia from November 2026 through April 2027, ramping up from three times a week in November to five or six times a week by December, holding at five times a week through January to March, then easing back to twice a week in April.
With two carriers on the route, travellers out of YOW will have real scheduling flexibility to compare.
The Bottom Line
What stands out about WestJet's winter routes is where they are landing. Rather than adding more capacity to Toronto and Vancouver, the airline is putting nonstop sun service into Winnipeg, Regina, and Ottawa, cities that usually get left connecting through a bigger hub. Mérida from Calgary is the marquee addition, since it will be the only nonstop link between the city and western Canada, but the wider theme is real choice for travellers who are used to having none.
These winter routes are already on the schedule. If any of these destinations have been on your list, now is a good time to start watching fares.
Happy travels!
