Dominican airline Arajet is set to launch its first U.S. routes this spring, marking a significant step in its plan to establish a Pan-American hub in Santo Domingo. The budget carrier will begin operations with flights from Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) to Miami International Airport (MIA) on April 11, followed by flights to San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) starting June 5. Both routes will operate six days a week.
Additionally, Arajet will connect MIA and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) four times a week beginning June 13. Later in June, the airline also plans to introduce flights between New York and Santo Domingo, although no specific start date has been announced for this route.
“Beginning U.S. operations with flights from these cities is the next step towards realizing our vision of the [Dominican Republic] as a new travel hub of the continent,” said Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet. “This is the beginning of our U.S. operations, and these routes will expand tourism in our region, making it easier for travelers to discover our country and connect to exciting destinations in neighboring Caribbean islands as well as Central and South America.”
Airfares for Arajet’s new U.S. routes are priced starting at $84 one-way.
Founded in 2022, Arajet aims to develop Santo Domingo into a connecting hub linking North and South America, drawing inspiration from Copa Airlines’ “Hub of the Americas” at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY). The airline operates an all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet with ten 737-8s currently in service and another twenty 737-8200s on order.
According to schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, Arajet concluded last year serving 21 cities across Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America from its bases in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.
Arajet faces competition on its new U.S. routes from established carriers such as American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, LATAM, JetBlue, and SkyHigh Dominicana.
