Narayan AmmachchiLow-cost carrier Arajet is poised to make Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean’s aviation hub.
Arajet will offer North American passengers connecting flights to more than 10 countries in the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Curaçao, Aruba and Colombia.
This week, Arajet began offering direct flights between Toronto and Santo Domingo four days per week. Toronto is now one of 22 destinations served by Arajet in the region. The airline is the first to fly directly from Toronto to Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo.
“Arajet also establishes Santo Domingo as an exciting new hub for Canadians,” said Víctor Pacheco, founder and CEO of Arajet, in a press release.
Founded in September 2022, the airline has already reached its target of moving 500,000 passengers in its first full year of operations and is aiming to reach 1.5 million in 2024.
Arajet’s vision for Santo Domingo as an aviation hub could have a major impact on the Dominican economy. A successful hub attracts investment in infrastructure, real estate and services. This could lead to new jobs and opportunities for Dominicans.
Pacheco was operating a charter airline called Dominican Wings in 2010 when he decided to launch a fully-fledged carrier after investment firms Bain Capital and Griffin Global Asset Management agreed to finance his dream.
Arajet currently operates a fleet of five leased Boeing aircraft and is expected to receive another 20 by the end of 2024. These aircraft will connect 22 destinations in 15 countries across the Americas.
Arajet’s hub strategy is unique among low-cost carriers in the region. Most other low-cost carriers focus on point-to-point flights. Arajet’s hub strategy allows passengers to connect to flights to other destinations in the Americas without having to go through a major hub like Miami or New York City.
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