Arajet Targets U.S. Market with New Routes and Hub Ambitions

Arajet, the Dominican Republic-based airline founded in 2022, is making significant strides to expand into the U.S. market. With the recent finalization of a Dominican-U.S. open skies agreement, which took effect on December 19, the airline is set to begin flying to the U.S. in the second quarter of 2025. Arajet views these new routes as essential to its goal of transforming Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo into a major north-south connecting hub.

The airline has announced its plans to start service from SDQ to key U.S. destinations, including New York, Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arajet’s fleet, which currently consists of 10 Boeing 737-8 aircraft, will expand as the airline receives an 11th 737-8 by mid-2025, with 15 expected to be in operation by the end of next year. These aircraft will be used for the U.S. routes, with the airline aiming for a daily flight frequency by the end of 2025.

Manuel Luna, Arajet’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized that flying to the U.S. has been a central goal since the airline’s inception. “Flying to the U.S. has since the beginning been our main goal,” Luna stated, noting that the airline is committed to expanding its presence in the U.S. to serve the Dominican diaspora and attract tourists to the region. There are approximately 2.4 million Dominican Americans living in the U.S., making this market a key focus for Arajet.

In addition to its initial U.S. routes, Arajet plans to expand services to other destinations in the U.S. from Dominican cities such as Punta Cana and Santiago de Los Caballeros in 2025. While the initial flights may not be daily, the airline aims to have daily services to New York, Miami, and San Juan by the end of 2025.

Arajet’s broader strategy is to position SDQ as a key connection point between the U.S. and South America, particularly focusing on Miami as a central hub. The airline’s goal is to offer affordable flights from South American cities such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, and Ecuador to Miami, with a potential stopover in Santo Domingo. This model aims to provide a cost-effective travel option for passengers while boosting tourism to the Dominican Republic.

Luna also expressed the airline’s ambitions to expand its U.S. network further, with plans to serve additional destinations such as Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, Orlando, and possibly Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles. These routes are expected to complement Arajet’s existing operations, which currently serve 23 cities across 15 countries from SDQ and Punta Cana. The airline already operates flights to Montreal and Toronto in Canada.

With the open skies agreement in place, Arajet is poised to strengthen its foothold in the U.S. market, building a robust network that will support both regional connectivity and international tourism.

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