Arajet announces plans for new flights from Dominican Republic to USA

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Arajet announces plans for new flights from Dominican Republic to USA

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Dec 21, 2024

Arajet has announced its intention to launch flights to the United States in the second quarter of 2025. The Dominican low-cost airline plans to introduce routes to New York and Miami, marking its entry into the US market.

The announcement follows Arajet's approval from the US Department of Transportation under the Open Skies agreement between the Dominican Republic and the United States. Ticket sales will commence once final approval is granted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In addition to these US destinations, Arajet will also establish a route connecting the Dominican Republic with Puerto Rico. Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet, stated: "These routes will open more travel to the US, a very important market for the Dominican Republic, and our low-fare flights will provide new opportunities to grow tourism and business."

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Since its inception in 2022, Arajet has been working towards expanding into the US market. Nacim Yala, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Arajet, highlighted past challenges: "Not being able to go there – and knowing that around 60% of Dominican travel goes to the US – is painful for us."

With Open Skies effective as of December 20, 2024, Arajet can now proceed with its plans. The carrier aims to serve either New York's JFK or Newark (EWR) from its hub at Punta Cana (PUJ).

Arajet intends to use its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet for these routes. The aircraft accommodates up to 185 passengers across two classes: eight in business class and 177 in economy class.

By entering this market segment, Arajet anticipates increasing competition on routes currently dominated by American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. This competition could result in lower fares and more options for travelers.

Arajet also operates out of Santo Domingo (SDQ), though it has not yet disclosed whether it plans any US routes from this location.