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A new airline says it will lower average fares for travel between New York and the Dominican Republic. On Monday, low-cost carrier Arajet is set to announce its first route to the New York area. The carrier will connect its Santo Domingo hub with Newark Liberty International in New Jersey from June 16.
Arajet describes its entry to the market as a “reprieve” for travelers who face high fares with existing operators. A huge Dominican diaspora and the Caribbean nation’s popularity as an inbound leisure destination make flights from New York big business.
However, Skift analysis of Cirium Diio data suggests Arajet will face extremely stiff competition. By the first week of August, there will be a total of 101 nonstop flights between the New York metro area and Santo Domingo – excluding the new Arajet options.
JetBlue is the dominant player with seven flights every day from its JFK hub. Notably, JetBlue is also planning 10 weekly flights from Newark to Santo Domingo – placing it in direct competition with Arajet.
In recent months, JetBlue has pivoted its network with a greater focus on so-called ‘VFR’ leisure routes to and from the Caribbean region. These trips, often to visit friends and relatives, form part of the carrier’s broader JetForward turnaround plan.
Speaking at the Skift Aviation Forum in Dallas in November 2024, JetBlue president, Marty St. George confirmed he’s comfortable with the airline’s East Coast leisure niche: “No matter how bad things get, you are still going to see your mom and your dad,” he said.
Elsewhere, Delta will offer three daily flights to Santo Domingo, also from JFK, while United operates from New Jersey, with three daily departures.
Can Arajet Compete in New York?
The three big-name brands will offer almost 18,000 weekly seats direct to Santo Domingo in August. A further 35,000 seats will be on sale every week onboard an additional 200 flights to three other airports in the Caribbean country.
In contrast, Arajet’s modest entry to the market will see just 740 seats on four weekly services. These will initially operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday and be flown by Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.
The airline is hoping that its status as the Dominican Republic’s flag carrier will give it a cultural cut-through in a crowded market. An additional strength is the ability for passengers to connect to 24 onward destinations – some of which are not available as nonstop options from Newark or JFK.
Speaking on Monday, Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet, said the route will establish the airline as “a carrier of choice for U.S. travelers booking vacations and getaways as well as visiting friends and family.”
UN Tourism data suggests around 10% of the country’s GDP stems from inbound leisure visitors, while the World Bank noted a “record influx of tourists” in 2024.
Despite being the national airline of the Dominican Republic, Arajet operates a low-cost model. This sees an unbundling of fares with services such as checked baggage priced separately.
The carrier is promoting roundtrip flights from $262. Skift analysis of airfares suggests roundtrip economy tickets across all airlines currently range from $400 to $550, with prices higher at peak periods. Journey times are around four hours.
Ahead of its New York debut, Arajet is due to launch flights to Miami and San Juan in Puerto Rico. The carrier started flying in 2022 and operates from Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.
Watch JetBlue’s Marty St. George at the Skift Aviation Forum 2024:
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