Dominican Republic launches Caribbean’s first ultra-low-cost carrier

Newly launched Arajet is the Dominican Republic and Caribbean’s first ultra-low-cost airline and is based in the capital, Santo Domingo, on the south-western side of the island. The flag-carrying airline will serve 22 destinations in 12 countries over the upcoming months, expanding 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.

The carrier’s first official flight was to San Salvador in El Salvador on September 17, having successfully completed trial runs to Barranquilla and Cali in Colombia and also to Aruba in the prior two days. Over the next five years Arajet plans to transport more than 7 million passengers, generating more than 4,000 direct and close to 40,000 indirect jobs in the region.

Arajet has already taken delivery of five out of eight direct leases of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and has a direct order for 20 new Boeing 737 MAX jets. The carrier will continue to grow and invest in its fleet with 15 additional options to be delivered over the next five years. “The 737 MAX family of airplanes is well suited to Arajet’s network with the 737-8 enabling profitable new routes and the 737-8-200 providing unrivalled efficiencies,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.