Low-cost airline Arajet plans to start flights between Miami International Airport and Santo Domingo or Punta Cana next summer. This is part of a broader opening of air service between the Dominican Republic and the USA, as well as a potential benefit for travelers and the tourism industry.
The long-awaited debut occurred after the Dominican carrier received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation in December as part of an agreement between the U.S. and the Caribbean country that eases flights for airlines to and from both countries.
"This agreement with the Dominican Republic is a step forward in the liberalization of the international civil aviation sector in the Western Hemisphere," - the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.
By the end of June, flights to/from Santo Domingo and Punta Cana will also begin to operate to New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The carrier, which serves over 100,000 passengers monthly, intends to commence operations in the U.S. with a daily flight between MIA and Santo Domingo or Punta Cana, as well as from New York between April 1 and June 30, said Manuel Luna, Director of Communications, in an interview. Arajet is awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration before finalizing details and starting ticket sales.
The airline has not yet decided between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, Luna said. But the goal is to start with a daily flight to MIA and one to New York. Then Arajet will add flights to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. The third destination in the Dominican Republic is Santiago de los Caballeros. Further expansion partly depends on securing an agreement with Boeing. According to Luna, Arajet expects to receive five more aircraft from Boeing in 2025.
For flights between the Dominican Republic and the USA, Arajet will use new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, with a capacity of 185 passengers. The cabins will be predominantly economy class, although some seats will have extra legroom and will cost more.
Tourism in the Dominican Republic
The expansion of Arajet's network is happening against the backdrop of record-breaking tourism in the Dominican Republic. According to the local newspaper Dominican Today, in 2023 the Dominican Republic welcomed over 10 million tourists by land and sea, a record high. It is expected that by the end of 2024, this number will reach 12 million.
In the first nine months of 2024, about 8.4 million tourists visited the country, setting a record for that period and representing a 55% increase compared to January-September 2019, reports Dominican Today. This growth could accelerate thanks to daily American Airlines flights between MIA and La Romana, which started on December 5 on a 128-seat Airbus A319.
Connections between Miami and the Dominican Republic
Connections between the Dominican Republic and South Florida are strengthening as this Caribbean country continues to develop. South Florida benefits greatly from this growth. In 2022 and 2023, the Dominican Republic was the third-largest source of international passengers for MIA, after Colombia and Mexico. Their numbers are increasing this year.
According to Greg Chinea, Director of Communications at Miami-Dade Aviation Department, by mid-2024, the Dominican Republic intends to serve 1.7 million travelers at MIA. This is a 36% increase from the 1.25 million travelers in 2023, according to official data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, VIPs from Miami are flying to Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, a favorite vacation spot. Pitbull and Mark Anthony are regular visitors. Lili Estefan, host of the program "E Gordo y la Flaca" on Univision, attended the resort's 50th anniversary in October.
She told the Miami Herald that she has been visiting Casa de Campo for 25 years and loves the Dominican Republic. Expansion of connectivity between Colombia and Miami
The Caribbean country is not the only one adding flights to South Florida
The Colombian airline Avianca is opening four new routes in 2025 between South Florida and Latin America, with flights to Miami and Fort Lauderdale:
▪ FLL-Medellin
▪ FLL-Managua-San Salvador
▪ San José-MIA
▪ Guatemala City-MIA
Avianca is also adding flights between Tampa and Bogotá, according to an announcement from the Colombian airline. Launch dates and flight frequencies are not specified.
