Arajet Launches U.S. Flights from Santo Domingo
On April 11, Dominican low‑cost carrier Arajet operated its inaugural service to the United States, marking the start of 4x‑weekly flights between Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo and Miami International Airport. The Boeing 737‑8 departure showcased Arajet’s ambition to connect the Dominican Republic with major North American gateways, offering travelers affordable fares and one‑stop convenience. Guests on the first flight experienced Arajet’s no‑frills service model and modern cabin interiors, setting a new standard for budget travel in the Caribbean.
Founded in 2022, Arajet set out to transform Santo Domingo into a “new hub of the Americas,” mirroring the successful connecting‑hub model of Panama’s Copa Airlines in Panama City. Central to this vision was the December 2024 Dominican‑U.S. open skies agreement, which removed restrictions on route rights and frequencies. With the open skies pact in place, Arajet can aggressively pursue growth on trans‑border routes, democratizing air travel by increasing competition and lowering ticket prices for passengers across the hemisphere.
The SDQ‑MIA service will ramp up to daily departures over the summer peak season, and Arajet has announced plans to extend Miami flights to Punta Cana, serving both of the Dominican Republic’s busiest airports. Although the carrier has yet to set a launch date for the Punta Cana‑Miami link, executives say they are finalizing schedules and regulatory approvals. By offering multiple daily connections to Florida, Arajet aims to capture leisure traffic and cater to Dominican expatriate communities seeking affordable travel options.
Arajet’s U.S. expansion continues in June with two additional routes. On June 4, the airline will begin four‑times‑weekly flights between Santo Domingo and San Juan, Puerto Rico, followed by a June 16 launch of a 4x‑weekly service to Newark Liberty International Airport. Both routes will be operated with the airline’s growing fleet of Boeing 737‑8 jets, offering passengers up to 160 seats per departure and competitive trans‑Caribbean fares that challenge existing carriers on those corridors.
“This is a historic moment for Arajet and for the entire Dominican Republic,” said CEO Víctor Pacheco. “This first flight to Miami, the capital of Latin America, is just the beginning of our commitment to offering efficient and more affordable travel for our passengers. Connecting this city as the beginning point for North America will promote tourism and business and cultural exchanges between both nations.” His comments underscore the carrier’s dual focus on delivering low fares and strengthening economic ties.
Pacheco has consistently emphasized Arajet’s mission to “democratize the region’s skies” by providing optionality and lower prices. In interviews with Aviation Week, he noted that the Dominican Republic’s strategic geographic position enables convenient one‑stop connections throughout North, Central and South America. With open skies in effect, the airline no longer competes with one hand tied behind its back and can pursue new markets without bilateral route limitations.
Looking ahead, Arajet is eyeing a broad network of U.S. destinations, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The carrier is also exploring service from Santiago de los Caballeros, which would further enhance its hub‑and‑spoke structure in the Dominican Republic. As Arajet scales up operations, travelers can expect increased frequencies, added destinations and continued pressure on fares, driving broader accessibility to air travel across the Americas.
With its first U.S. flights now airborne, Arajet stands poised to reshape Caribbean aviation. By leveraging the open skies agreement and deploying its cost‑efficient Boeing 737‑8 fleet on high‑demand routes, the airline is well positioned to fulfill its goal of making Santo Domingo a premier connecting hub and to bring more affordable, convenient travel options to passengers on both sides of the border.
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