The first ultra low-cost airline in the Caribbean market will connect 22 destinations in 12 countries with direct flights to and from Santo Domingo.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Arajet, the Dominican Republic’s new low-fare airline, officially launched operations in Caribbean skies, leading the renaissance of Dominican aviation with a powerful hub in Santo Domingo. Arajet will build in the coming months a robust route network with 22 destinations in 12 countries, proudly flying the Dominican flag and offering customer-oriented service throughout the continent.
After two days of successful operations on September 15 and 16 with flights to Barranquilla and Cali in Colombia and Aruba, Arajet marked its first official flight to San Salvador in El Salvador, at an event hosted by Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, and Morena Valdez, Minister of Tourism of El Salvador.
“We celebrate the launch of Arajet as our new national airline. Our government will continue to support Arajet and the aviation industry in general to ensure its competitiveness and create an air hub that promotes tourism, trade and cultural exchange, and provides the opportunity for all Dominicans abroad to visit their country at affordable prices,” said President Abinader.
Victor Pacheco Mendez, CEO of Arajet, highlighted that the Low-Fare business model and the designation as a national airline for the Dominican Republic will attract more tourists, increase connectivity and offer Dominicans the opportunity to travel at lower prices, aboard new aircraft with the highest safety standards and the distinctive and warm Dominican customer service.
“We are very excited to begin operations and offer Dominicans and all our guests low fares, a world-class customer experience and a new and growing network to and from Santo Domingo to major cities throughout the Americas,” said Mr. Pacheco. “Our mission is to build services for our guests using a fleet of state-of-the-art aircraft with the latest technology, to strengthen and facilitate the country’s connection to the world, while promoting national tourism internationally.”
Arajet will continue to expand its operations later this month with the addition of 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.
“From the perspective of President Nayib Bukele’s government, air connectivity is key to boosting tourism, making it easier for travelers to move between countries and discover the wide range of options that El Salvador has to offer: from the permanent consistency of its surfing waves, its imposing volcanoes, towns and cities with great historical value,” said Morena Valdez, El Salvador’s Minister of Tourism.
Over the next five years Arajet plans to transport more than 7 million passengers, generating more than 4,000 direct jobs and close to 40,000 indirect jobs in the region.
“With the launch of Arajet our country will begin to feel the impact the airline will have in the Dominican Republic. Arajet will contribute to the growth of the tourism industry and attract more visitors from new destinations so that we can continue to reach record numbers in tourist arrivals and diversify the nationality of our visitors with fair fares that connect Santo Domingo with the continent. We reaffirm our commitment, assumed jointly with the Tourism Cabinet headed by President Abinader, to strengthen public policies related to the tourism and aeronautical sector to promote its development,” said Tourism Minister David Collado.
Arajet has already received 5 of the 8 direct leases of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and has a direct order for 20 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The company will continue to grow and invest in its fleet with 15 additional options to be delivered over the next 5 years.
“The 737 MAX family of airplanes is a good fit for Arajet’s network, with the 737-8 enabling profitable new routes and the 737-8-200 providing unmatched efficiency,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “The flexibility of the 737 MAX ensures Arajet can meet its goal of making flying more affordable and accessible throughout the Caribbean and beyond, with safe, sustainable and reliable service.”
Arajet enters the market as the region’s newest low-cost airline, strategically supported by experienced global aviation investors Bain Capital and Griffin Global Asset Management to establish itself as a world-class airline for the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. “By working closely with our investors, as well as our strategic partner and leading global aerospace company Boeing, we are well positioned for operational success and to provide Dominicans and international visitors with affordable flights connecting the country to key destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean,” added Pacheco.
Arajet’s ultra-quiet, fuel-efficient CFM LEAP-1B engines reduce noise pollution and allow the airline to save on operating costs that support low fares for everyone to fly and book easily at Arajet.com.
“We have been preparing for years to efficiently and conveniently connect the Dominican Republic to major international markets. We are taking responsibility for the renaissance of Dominican aviation as the new national airline with an experienced international team that will ensure our operations meet the highest standards of safety and customer service for our guests,” concluded Pacheco.
