Friday, March 21, 2025
Arajet accelerates U.S. expansion with new flights to Chicago, Boston, Washington, and Orlando, boosting Caribbean-American travel and tourism ties.
Dominican low-cost airline Arajet is accelerating its push into the U.S. market, filing fresh plans with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand its route network to even more major American citis, further strengthening its strategic position in the Caribbean aviation landscape.
Following a landmark bilateral air services agreement signed between the Dominican Republic and the United States in December, Arajet is now capitalizing on the open skies framework to grow aggressively. The deal gave Arajet initial rights to operate into Miami, New York, and San Juan, Puerto Rico—routes that are already on the airline’s launch schedule.
- Santo Domingo to Miami: Service begins April 11, 2025
- Santo Domingo to San Juan: Launches June 4, 2025
- Santo Domingo to Newark, NJ: Takes off June 16, 2025
But the most exciting developments are still ahead.
New U.S. Cities on the Horizon
In its latest DOT filing, Arajet confirmed plans to launch nonstop services from Santo Domingo (SDQ) to Boston Logan (BOS), Washington Dulles (IAD), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Orlando (MCO). The carrier expects to begin selling tickets for these routes by March 31, with first flights to follow soon after, pending final regulatory approval.
Arajet’s CEO Víctor Pacheco Méndez said the expansion is aimed at “providing more affordable connectivity between the Dominican Republic and key U.S. markets with strong Dominican diaspora and leisure demand.” The move is expected to benefit both tourism and family visitation travel, which represent a large share of Arajet’s traffic base.
Building a New Caribbean Hub
The airline is positioning Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo as a connecting hub not just to the U.S., but to Central and South America as well. By offering affordable flights and leveraging newer, fuel-efficient aircraft, Arajet seeks to challenge more established regional carriers with a lean ultra-low-cost model.
Arajet operates a fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which allows it to serve long-haul narrowbody routes efficiently. The airline is looking to grow its fleet beyond its current 10 aircraft and has placed a firm order for 20 more Boeing 737 MAXs, with options for an additional 15, according to Boeing and Routes Online.
Competitive Edge in the U.S. Market
The airline’s planned expansion into competitive U.S. markets like Boston and Washington D.C. will put it head-to-head with larger U.S. carriers and regional players. But Arajet believes its low fares, modern aircraft, and nonstop routes will give it an edge, particularly for cost-conscious leisure travelers and the large Dominican diaspora in the Northeast and Florida.
Arajet is also exploring interline and codeshare partnerships, aiming to extend its reach further into North America and Latin America. Talks are reportedly underway with South American and U.S. carriers to support feeder traffic and onward connections.
What’s Next?
The coming months are critical for Arajet as it seeks final DOT clearance for its expanded route map. If approved, the new routes could launch as early as May or June 2025, just in time for the busy summer travel season.
The airline’s DOT application emphasized its role in boosting tourism, trade, and connectivity between the U.S. and the Caribbean, aligning with broader aviation liberalization trends in the region.
As of now, Arajet is targeting over 20 destinations in 16 countries across the Americas, and with its latest U.S. plans, the airline is well on its way to becoming a major player in the trans-Caribbean travel market.
