Dominican Republic Authorizes 800 Flights for Hurricane Melissa Rerouted

The Dominican Republic's Civil Aviation Board has authorized 800 new flights, a mix of regular and charter services, to accommodate a significant influx of tourists. These visitors were originally destined for Jamaica and other northern Caribbean islands but were rerouted following the extensive devastation caused by Category-5 Hurricane Melissa last month. Industry officials anticipate a positive impact on the Dominican Republic's hotel occupancy, projecting an average rate exceeding 95 percent for the upcoming holiday season, with the additional flights scheduled over an eight-month period.

The Dominican Republic has already seen robust tourism growth, welcoming over 672,000 visitors last month, an increase from 575,600 in September. From January to October, the nation recorded more than 8 million arrivals. Hotel occupancy rates rose to 63 percent last month from 58 percent in September, underscoring tourism's critical role in the Dominican Republic's economy, which generated nearly $11 million last year.

Conversely, Jamaica continues to grapple with recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett reported numerous flight cancellations, with some major hotels not expecting to reopen until mid-to-late 2026. However, Bartlett anticipates approximately 60 percent of hotel rooms will be available by mid-December, and cruise ship visits have brought 32,000 passengers, a number expected to double soon. Infrastructure remains severely impacted, with only 76 percent of the power grid and 82 percent of water services operational nearly a month post-storm.

The humanitarian toll of Hurricane Melissa is significant, with 45 fatalities and 16 individuals still missing in Jamaica. The island also faces a public health crisis, reporting 11 deaths from suspected or confirmed leptospirosis among 91 suspected cases. Neighboring Haiti also suffered severely, with at least 43 deaths and widespread flooding reported in its southwest region.