Arajet Just Became Orlando Sanford’s Only International Airline. What’s Next for the Dominican Carrier?

Start-up Dominican carrier Arajet just launched its fourth U.S. route on Sunday, October 26.

Rather than heading straight for Orlando’s International Airport (MCO), Arajet opted for Orlando’s Sanford (SFB) — the city’s smaller, regional airport.

Arajet’s arrival marks Sanford’s only international flight and the only flight operated by an international airline, so it’s a big deal.

We were keen to learn more about why Arajet picked Sanford and what’s next for the airline — which has ambitious plans for U.S. routes and connectivity.

I spoke with Manuel Luna, chief communications officer, to find out more. Here’s what he had to say.

Arajet’s Fourth U.S. Destination Is Orlando Sanford

Until Arajet’s arrival at Orlando Sanford, all international airlines have used the city’s larger Orlando International Airport (MCO).

So, why did Arajet choose Sanford?

“Sanford’s vision is to become a very important airport for international flights, so we share the same vision to be the best new alternative,” Luna said. “Arajet is the best new alternative for flying, and Sanford is the best alternative airport.”

Thanks to its world-famous Walt Disney World and Universal theme parks, Orlando takes the stage as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. — and even the world. However, flying tourists from the Dominican Republic to Orlando is not why Arajet chose to fly to this route.

“The main purpose of this route is leisure from Orlando to Punta Cana,” said Luna.

He also explained that whether the flight originates in Santo Domingo (SDQ) or Punta Cana shows whether the route is aimed at Dominicans or at inbound tourism for foreigners: Santo Domingo for Dominicans and Punta Cana, with its access to dozens of beach resorts, for inbound tourism.

Arajet also wants to be the airline of choice for Orlandoans and Central Floridians who plan to venture further afield to destinations across Latin America. The flights to and from Sanford were specifically timed to facilitate easy onward connections from Punta Cana to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE); Cordoba, Argentina (COR); Santiago de Chile (SCL); São Paulo, Brazil (GRU); Lima, Peru (LIM), and Mexico City (MEX).

For now, Arajet’s flights from Sanford will operate 3x weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. When the carrier adds more planes to its fleet, the plan is to increase the frequency between Sanford and Punta Cana to daily.

That will also enable the airline to increase transit opportunities at Punta Cana, this time focusing on other Caribbean destinations like Aruba (AUA) and Curaçao (CUR).

For U.S. travelers sure what connecting via Punta Cana looks like, I asked Luna how the process would be for transit passengers. “Connecting is a very smooth in Punta Cana,” he said. “You don’t need to pass through immigration.”

While the route is predominantly aimed at Orlandoans, Luna commented that around 25% of passengers on the new route to Sanford are indeed visitors from elsewhere in Latin America, such as Buenos Aires, Lima, and Santiago.

“We are pushing hard on our marketing to bring those passengers from South America to Orlando,” said Luna.

Los Angeles (LAX) Is Next on Arajet’s List of 18 U.S. Destinations

In November, Arajet will add nonstop flights from Santo Domingo to Boston (BOS) and from Punta Cana to Chicago (ORD). U.S. destination number 5 will be Chicago on November 15, followed by Boston as No. 6 on November 20.

According to Luna, this is just the beginning.

“We’re targeting 16 to 18 U.S. destinations in the next 2 to 3 years,” he said.

While the airline has yet to publicly announce its next destination, Luna confirmed during our call that Los Angeles (LAX) will be next. He also hinted that one of Houston’s airports could follow after LAX, as the Texan city is a high priority for Arajet.

Elsewhere, South America is also an important focus for Arajet. In 2026, the airline hopes to build on its already-expansive South American network with the additions of Asuncion, Paraguay (ASU) and Montevideo, Uruguay (MVD).

More Aircraft Are Coming

The only thing stopping Arajet from serving more U.S. destinations right now is not having enough planes. However, with more deliveries on the horizon, it shouldn’t be long before we officially hear about Los Angeles and maybe even Houston.

“We’re adding a new plane in December, which will be our 13th,” said Luna, “We’re going to be adding 5 more in 2026, ending the year on 18 planes.”

Arajet hopes to receive its 30-strong order of Boeing 737 Max planes by the end of 2028.

Will Arajet’s Upcoming Loyalty Program Be Enough To Sway Passengers?

Arajet does not currently offer its frequent flyers any form of loyalty program. The airline hopes that by introducing a loyalty program, it will attract more returning customers based in Orlando and its other U.S. destinations.

“We have many repeat customers, and they deserve a frequent flyer program with benefits that reward them for their loyalty,” said Luna. “We’re working with the marketing team to try and launch the loyalty program as soon as possible.”

Arajet’s plan was to launch a loyalty program by the end of 2025, but it looks like that will be delayed until 2026.

Arajet’s loyalty program is a necessary next step, though given the already well-established loyalty programs offered by U.S. carriers with nonstop flights to Punta Cana, there will be stiff competition.

Final Thoughts

Arajet’s ambitious plans have certainly caught our attention. With more planes and more U.S. routes on the way, you could be spotting one of its Boeing 737 MAXs at an airport near you soon.

Hopefully, it won’t be long before we can try Arajet our for ourselves and share the experience with you.