New Dominican Start-Up Airline Arajet To Offer Low-Cost Flights

A brand new airline is about to offer another way to fly from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic.

Arajet is a new ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) based in the Dominican Republic that plans to begin operations from its base at Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo (SDQ) this spring.

Here’s everything you need to know about this brand-new airline!

New Dominican Airline Arajet Expect To Launch This Spring

The airline says it will serve the Dominican Republican, the Caribbean, and North and South America. Flights to the Caribbean islands and Central America will start in spring 2022.

Arajet is also expected to serve U.S. cities with significant Dominican-American populations, including New York, Boston, Miami, and Chicago. There’s no firm date when U.S. service will begin, but the airline says it should start “later this year.”

The Dominican Republic is a hugely popular destination for U.S. travelers looking for sun and sand, as the Caribbean’s largest economy received nearly 5 million travelers last year.

“The Dominican Republican and the wider Caribbean region is underserved by low-cost airlines, and passengers deserve a more affordable way to travel in our market,” founder and CEO Victor Pacheco said in a statement.

“We believe Arajet is well-positioned to transform the Santo Domingo Airport into a modern, new hub for destination and connecting traffic,” the statement continued.

Arajet’s fleet will be comprised of brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The airline says it has firm orders, purchase options, and lease agreements for 40 aircraft to deliver “over the next several years.”

The airline will be led by Mike Powell, the former chief financial offer at Wizz Air, a Hungarian ultra-low-cost carrier. Wizz offers “unbundled” fares, which means travelers pay for extra bags and pick their seats. That gives some indication that Arajet will likely follow a similar business model.

The Arajet website is live, but ticket sales aren’t yet available, so it’s unclear exactly how much tickets will cost or how fare prices will be structured.

Hot Tip: Learn how to fly to the Caribbean using points and miles, as well as the best hotels to stay in Punta Cana using your points!

Final Thoughts

New airlines are always exciting news. Even though the Dominican Republic is well-served by all of the major U.S. airlines, this gives travelers wanting to save a couple of dollars a new way to fly to the country and other destinations in the Caribbean and South America!