Dominican flag carrier Arajet marked its fourth anniversary by announcing plans to add nine Boeing aircraft in 2027, expanding its fleet to 25 aircraft, strengthening operations in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, and advancing its goal of carrying more than 3 million passengers next year.
Víctor Pacheco, Arajet’s founder and CEO, said the airline will continue its rapid expansion plan and aims to position the Dominican Republic as a new air hub in the Americas, with more than 35 destinations in over 20 countries and expanded connections through its Dominican bases.
“Four years ago, we set out to better connect the Dominican Republic with the continent. Today, that connectivity is helping more Dominicans travel, attracting new visitors, expanding markets and creating opportunities for thousands of people. Our goal is to keep growing and make the country the new air hub of the Americas,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco said the growth strategy has made Arajet the third-largest airline by passenger volume to and from the Dominican Republic, and the company expects to move into second place in 2027.
Fourth anniversary
At a press meeting marking Arajet’s fourth anniversary, Pacheco and Manuel Luna, the airline’s Chief Communication Officer, presented a report on its four years of operations and 2027 plans. They highlighted the impact of Arajet’s connectivity model on air traffic growth between the Dominican Republic and Latin America, as well as the company’s main achievements since launching operations in September 2022.
The Arajet Effect: growth in the DR-Latin America market
The airline also presented “The Arajet Effect,” an analysis showing how passenger traffic has grown between the Dominican Republic and the Latin American countries it serves.
Passenger traffic between the Dominican Republic and the Latin American markets analyzed totaled about 1.3 million in 2022 and rose to roughly 2.8 million by 2025. By the end of 2026, it is projected to exceed 3.2 million, representing growth of approximately 143% compared with 2022.
Luna said the trend shows that new competitors and increased air capacity can expand the market rather than simply redistributing existing passengers.
“The Arajet Effect shows that we have done more than offer competitive fares. In the destinations Arajet serves, the market is growing, and other airlines are also carrying more passengers. This means more travelers, jobs, tourism, business opportunities and connectivity for the Dominican Republic,” he said.
Data shared with journalists showed strong growth in several of Arajet’s main markets:
Colombia is projected to grow from 729,000 passengers in 2022 to 1.3 million by the end of 2026.
Argentina is expected to rise from 71,000 passengers in 2022 to more than 425,000 in 2026.
Peru is expected to increase from 221,000 passengers in 2022 to more than 563,000 this year.
Similar growth is also seen in markets such as Mexico, Brazil and Chile.
From September 2025 to September 2026, Arajet transported more than 1.8 million passengers, a 58% increase from the previous period.
Developing Dominican talent
Ivanna Lajara, Vice President of Human Resources, emphasized how the airline’s expansion has supported job creation and the development of Dominican aeronautical talent.
She reported that Arajet already generates more than 1,000 direct jobs and around 2,100 indirect jobs, including more than 450 cabin crew and 242 pilots. In the last year, direct employment in the company grew by 37%, and the number of cabin crew by 45%.
Ivanna said 100% of its cabin crew are Dominican, and the number of Dominican pilots within the operation increased 69%, as part of a strategy focused on developing national human capital specialized in aviation.
First DR to enter IATA
Last year’s institutional milestones highlighted at the meeting included Arajet’s incorporation into the International Air Transport Association (IATA), becoming the first Dominican airline to be part of that organization.
Arajet executives stated that their strategy for the coming years will be focused on continuing to expand their network, strengthen connectivity from their operations in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, generate specialized jobs and contribute to the positioning of the Dominican Republic as one of the main air connection centers in the region.
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