Arajet (Santo Domingo) on September 15, 2022 launched scheduled low-fare operations.

The first route connect Santo Domingo with Barranquilla, Colombia.

The inaugural flight was followed by a second flight, this time to Cali, Colombia on the same day.

Arajet aircraft slide show:

Arajet has announced its arrival as the Caribbean market’s first ultra-low cost airline, headquartered in Santo Domingo with a mission to make air travel accessible to travelers to and from the Dominican Republican, the Caribbean, and North and South America.

 “Arajet will have the full support of the Dominican government, as they seek to grow tourism into the country and enable Dominicans living abroad to visit their home with low-priced air fares,” said His Excellency Mr. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic.

Arajet is expected to commence operations from Las Americas International Airport of Santo Domingo with flights to the Caribbean islands and Central America starting this Spring.  Arajet expects to add flights later this year to key North American markets with populations having significant familial ties to the Dominican Republic, including New York, Boston, Miami, and Chicago.  An estimated 2.2 million people of Dominican descent live in the United States.

Arajet will adopt the ultra low-cost carrier model (ULCC), which has revolutionized air travel across North and South America, offering low fares, schedule flexibility and choice of services.  The business will be led by Pacheco and Mike Powell, who formerly served as the Chief Financial Officer of Wizz Airlines, who have assembled a world class management team with extensive aviation and airline experience, including those involved in implementing the ULCC model on three continents.  Arajet is financially backed by experienced global aviation investors in Bain Capital Special Situations (“Bain Capital”) and Griffin Global Asset Management (“Griffin”).  The airline also has the support of the Dominican government and Vinci Airports.

Arajet will feature a fleet of brand-new Boeing 737-8 aircraft, which will immediately position the airline as a global leader in environmental efficiency by operating the most fuel-efficient fleet of aircraft in the market today.   Arajet has firm orders, purchase options and lease agreements in place for their first 40 aircraft to deliver over the next several years to meet anticipated demand.  Arajet’s first jet leased from Griffin, named after the country’s highest mountain ‘Pico Duarte,’ arrived at Las Americas International Airport earlier this month.

“We are excited to support Arajet as they build a leading ULCC in the Dominican Republican by providing the necessary financial and operational resources that will enable the airline to significantly scale its operations and serve more customers,” said Matt Evans, a Managing Director at Bain Capital.

Boeing and Arajet announced today the new Caribbean airline has ordered 20 737 MAX airplanes, specifically the high-capacity 737-8-200 model, to deliver low operating costs and expand affordable travel options in the Americas.

Arajet also has options to purchase 15 additional 737 MAX jets which, along with existing lease agreements, could take the airline’s new fuel-efficient fleet to 40 airplanes. The aircraft order was finalized in January and is currently attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.

The airline hosted a launch event today at its new hub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Positioned between North and South America, this location in the Caribbean will leverage the range of the 737 MAX to efficiently serve a large number of traditional and underserved markets in the continental United States, Brazil, Colombia and beyond. The 737 MAX can fly further and uses 20% less fuel than prior generation aircraft. Other key benefits of Arajet’s new fleet include better environmental performance with a 40% reduction in community noise and lower emissions.

Arajet’s first jet, a 737-8 leased from Griffin Global Asset Management, was delivered in early March. The jet was toured today by Dominican President Luis Abinader, who attended the launch event, along with industry, government and tourism officials. As travel and tourism recovers globally, Arajet will bring approximately 4,000 new jobs and significant new economic development to the island nation. Tourism makes up 8.4% of the Dominican Republic’s GDP.

Arajet Airlines on March 3 received its first 189-seat Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 HI 1026 (msn 60195) at Santo Domingo.

The aircraft is named “Pico Duarte”.

Arajet’s first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 (HI026) was seen flying at Boeing Field pending delivery: