BTN News: Arajet, the Dominican airline that’s been turning heads since its inception, is on track to close 2024 with an impressive milestone—over one million passengers transported across more than 20 destinations. This ambitious target, now within reach, marks a significant achievement for the airline, which has already moved close to 50% of that goal as of July, according to the latest data from the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC).
In the first seven months of 2024 alone, Arajet has successfully transported 489,585 passengers, a figure that represents a staggering 79% of the total number of travelers carried by the six national airlines operating during the same period, which collectively amount to 619,406. Arajet’s rapid rise to the top is further highlighted by its closest competitors—Sky High and Air Century—who have transported 92,323 and 31,517 passengers, respectively, within the same timeframe.
The airline’s leadership team is proud of these numbers, viewing them as a landmark moment for Dominican civil aviation. They emphasize that Arajet’s success is not just a win for the company but a historic achievement for the Dominican aviation market as a whole. “Arajet is set to close 2024 with over one million passengers, something never before seen for a Dominican airline, and a feat that even very few foreign airlines achieve in a single year,” stated Manuel Luna, the airline’s head of communications, in an interview with Diario Libre.
The data from JAC, spanning from January 2019 to July 2024, supports this bold claim. Before Arajet’s launch in 2022, the local air transport sector saw a significant decline, dropping from 134,916 passengers in 2019 to just 58,650 in 2020 due to the global pandemic. The numbers began to recover slightly in 2021, reaching 93,954 passengers. However, it wasn’t until Arajet entered the market that the Dominican aviation industry saw a dramatic resurgence. By the end of 2022, the local market had transported 203,057 passengers, with Arajet contributing 85,616 of those. The following year, the industry surpassed 600,000 passengers, over 400,000 of whom flew with Arajet, according to the regulator’s statistics.
From the start of its operations through July 2024, Arajet has flown a total of 1,038,761 passengers, accounting for 58% of the total number of passengers carried by around ten airlines between January 2019 and the first seven months of 2024, as per the data compiled by the Civil Aviation Board.
Currently, Arajet connects the Dominican Republic with a diverse array of destinations, including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, St. Martin, Curaçao, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico. The airline has ambitious plans for further expansion, eyeing the United States market in the first half of 2025. The initial routes proposed include major hubs such as New York, Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the company already having submitted applications to U.S. authorities.
The recent Open Skies agreement, signed on August 2 between the Dominican and U.S. authorities, is expected to expedite the flight authorization process by the U.S. Department of Transportation, allowing Arajet to tap into one of the world’s largest and most competitive aviation markets more swiftly.
Arajet’s journey from its launch to its current standing is a testament to the airline’s robust strategy, innovative approach, and the increasing demand for air travel in and out of the Dominican Republic. The airline’s success story reflects broader trends in the global aviation industry, where emerging carriers are challenging established players by offering competitive prices, new routes, and an enhanced passenger experience. With its eyes set on even greater heights, Arajet is not just flying planes but is also helping to elevate the Dominican Republic’s presence on the global aviation map.
