Arajet and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey celebrated the launch of nonstop service between Newark (EWR) to Las Américas Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) with the inaugural flight from the Dominican Republic to EWR on June 16. While passenger numbers decline in North America, the Dominican Republic’s airlines have increased their total number of passengers carried by 25% this year, led by Arajet, the Caribbean nation’s new low-price airline.
The full flight with 185 passengers arrived yesterday, headed by the Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, David Collado, and the founder and CEO of Arajet, Victor Pacheco. Together, they raised the Dominican and New Jersey flags from the cockpit to demonstrate the importance of this new destination in the airline’s network, which becomes the third in the United States, along with Miami (MIA) and San Juan (SJU), and the 28th in the Americas. This achievement was partly made possible thanks to the Open Skies Agreement, which facilitates greater connectivity between the Dominican Republic and the United States. The new route between Santo Domingo and Newark represents a significant step in strengthening the country’s presence in international aviation.
“This new route isn’t just about travel, it’s about cultural connections,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “With the largest Dominican community outside the DR right here in the New York-New Jersey region, Arajet’s nonstop service to Santo Domingo strengthens the cultural, economic, and family ties that unite our communities. We welcome Arajet to Newark Liberty and to continue expanding affordable, accessible international options for the millions who rely on our airports.”
“Offering this route has been the main objective since the beginning of our operations, with the goal to serve the large Dominican diaspora in New Jersey and New York as well as the many tourists flocking to the Dominican Republic. Thanks to Arajet, these passengers can now easily travel to our country with low prices and world-class, daily service,” said Arajet founder and CEO Victor Pacheco.
Arajet, with headquarters in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, operates a modern fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Since launching in 2022, the airline has quickly expanded to 28 destinations in 17 countries and recently surpassed the milestone of two million passengers. With an 81% share of the Dominican market, Arajet continues its mission to redefine air travel in the Americas through flexible fares, reliable service, and a customer-first approach.
