By the Caribbean Journal staff

American Airlines is adding a new route to what has quickly become one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean: Santo Domingo.

The Dominican Republic’s capital has been seeing a huge wave of new flights, as the country looks to position the energetic city as a new tourism hub.

Santo Domingo is seeing a significant jump in airlift.

American’s newest Caribbean route will operate from Charlotte, with plans to launch service in June.

The Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.

Charlotte is American’s second-biggest hub, and the new Santo Domingo route comes as AA has rapidly expanded its Caribbean offering from the city, including new routes to both Eleuthera and Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas at the end of 2018.

“With new gates opening at the end of this year, increases in frequencies on popular routes, new international service and a renovated Admirals Club, there’s so much to look forward to in Charlotte,” said Vasu Raja, Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning for American. “We’ll continue to be the best airline with the most choices in Charlotte for business and leisure customers.”

The JW Marriott in Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo, home to one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful historic quarters, the Colonial Zone, has emerged as a leading urban getaway in the region.

That has attracted new routes from a host of carriers in the last year, including JetBlue and United, among others.

The Billini hotel.

American Airlines also ramped up its daily flights from Miami to Santo Domingo in December.

It’s all a huge boost for the capital, which is home to a number of ultra-stylish hotels, from the Casas del XVI and the Billini Hotel to the state-of-the-art JW Marriott in the capital’s commercial center.

— CJ