Key Takeaways
- Arajet, a new low-fare airline in the Dominican Republic, commenced operations, aiming to expand to 22 destinations across 12 countries.
- The launch was celebrated with a flight to San Salvador and supported by the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader.
- Arajet plans to boost tourism and offer affordable travel with a modern fleet, starting with new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
- Over five years, Arajet aims to carry over 7 million passengers, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Arajet Launches as Dominican Republic’s New Low-Fare Airline
Santo Domingo, DO–Arajet, the Dominican Republic’s new low-fare airline, officially launched operations in the Caribbean skies, as per a press release.
Expansion Plans and Government Support
Arajet will build a route network of 22 destinations in 12 countries in the upcoming months to expand its customer base.
After two days of successful operations on September 15th and 16th with flights to Barranquilla and Cali in Colombia and to Aruba, Arajet marked its first official flight to San Salvador in El Salvador, in an event hosted by Mr. Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, and Mrs. Morena Valdez, Minister of Tourism of El Salvador.
“We celebrate the launch of Arajet as our newest national carrier,” President Abinader said in the press release. “Our government will continue supporting Arajet and the overall aeronautical industry to assure its competitiveness and create an air hub that promotes tourism, trade and cultural exchange, and provides an opportunity for all Dominicans abroad to visit their country at affordable prices.”
Fleet Expansion and Economic Impact
Víctor Pacheco Méndez, CEO of Arajet, highlighted in the news release that the Low-Fare business model and designation as a national carrier for the Dominican Republic will attract more tourists, increase connectivity, and offer Dominicans the opportunity to travel at lower fares, aboard new aircraft with the highest standards of safety.
“Our mission is to build services for our guests by utilizing a state-of-the-art aircraft fleet with the latest technology, to strengthen and facilitate the country’s connection to the world, while promoting domestic tourism internationally,” Mr. Pacheco noted in the release.
Arajet will continue expanding its operations later this month by adding routes to Saint Maarten in the Caribbean, Lima in Peru, Mexico City, Monterrey and Cancun in Mexico and Guatemala City in Guatemala. In October, Arajet will add Curaçao, San José in Costa Rica, Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador, Medellín and Bogotá in Colombia, as well as destinations in North America.
In the next five years, the company plans to transport more than 7 million passengers, generating more than 4,000 direct and close to 40,000 indirect jobs in the region.
The release notes that Arajet has already received 5 of 8 direct leases of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and has a direct order for 20 new Boeing 737 MAX. The carrier will continue to grow and invest in its fleet, with 15 additional options delivered over the next five years.
What We Think
Arajet’s entry into the Caribbean aviation market as a low-cost carrier is poised to make a significant impact on regional travel and tourism.
With strong governmental support and ambitious expansion plans, the airline is set to increase accessibility to the Dominican Republic while fostering economic growth through job creation.
This strategic move could redefine affordable travel within the Caribbean and Latin America, offering promising prospects for the airline and the region.
Read more in the entire release.
