The Dominican airline projects it will carry more than 2 million passengers in 2026 and exceed 3 million in 2027, the year in which it expects to reach a fleet of 25 aircraft
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.—Arajet, the Dominican Republic’s flag carrier, celebrated its fourth anniversary by highlighting the impact its connectivity model has had on the growth of air traffic between the country and Latin America, as well as the major milestones achieved since it began operations in September 2022.
During a press conference, the company presented what it called “The Arajet Effect,” an analysis showing how the passenger market has expanded between the Dominican Republic and the Latin American countries where the airline operates.
According to the data presented, in 2022, passenger traffic between the Dominican Republic and the Latin American markets analyzed totaled approximately 1.3 million passengers. By 2025, it reached nearly 2.8 million, while the projection for the end of 2026 exceeds 3.2 million passengers, representing an approximate 143% increase compared to 2022.
Manuel Luna, Arajet’s Chief Communication Officer, explained that this trend demonstrates that the entry of new competitors and an increase in flight capacity can help expand the market, rather than merely redistributing existing passengers.
“The Arajet Effect shows that we haven’t just come to offer more competitive fares. Where Arajet flies, the market grows, and other airlines also carry more passengers. That means more travelers, more jobs, more tourism, more business opportunities, and greater connectivity for the Dominican Republic,” said Luna.
The data presented by the company shows significant increases in some of its key markets. Traffic to Colombia rose from 729,000 passengers in 2022 to a projected 1.3 million in 2026. Traffic to Argentina rose from approximately 71,000 passengers in 2022 to a projected figure of over 425,000 in 2026, while traffic to Peru rose from 221,000 passengers in 2022 to a projected figure of over 563,000 for this year. The same trend is observed in markets such as Mexico, Brazil, and Chile.
Arajet also reported that between September 2025 and September 2026, it carried more than 1.8 million passengers, representing a 58% increase compared to the previous period.
Víctor Pacheco, founder and CEO of Arajet, announced that the company will maintain an accelerated expansion plan. By 2027, it projects to carry more than 3 million passengers and expand its fleet to 25 aircraft, strengthening its operations from Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.
The strategy aims to establish the Dominican Republic as a new aviation hub for the continent, with a network of more than 35 destinations in over 20 countries and a greater number of connections through its Dominican bases.
“Four years ago, we set out with the vision of better connecting the Dominican Republic with the continent. Today, we see that this connectivity is not only allowing more Dominicans to travel but is also bringing in new visitors, stimulating entire markets, and creating opportunities for thousands of people. Our goal now is to continue growing and turn the country into the new aviation hub of the Americas,” Pacheco concluded.
The results presented have positioned Arajet as the third-largest airline in terms of passengers carried to and from the Dominican Republic, and the company projects that it will rank second by 2027, Pacheco said.
During the presentation, Ivanna Lajara, Arajet’s vice president of Human Resources, also highlighted the impact of the airline’s expansion on job creation and the development of Dominican aviation talent.
The company reported that it already generates more than 1,000 direct jobs and approximately 2,100 indirect jobs, including more than 450 flight attendants and 242 pilots. Over the past year, direct employment at the company grew by 37%, while the number of flight attendants increased by 45%.
The airline also highlighted that 100% of its cabin crew are Dominican, while the number of Dominican pilots in its operations increased by 69%, as part of a strategy focused on developing domestic human capital specialized in aviation.
Among the institutional milestones of the past year is Arajet’s admission to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), making it—according to the company’s presentation—the first Dominican airline to join that organization.
Arajet reiterated that its strategy for the coming years will focus on continuing to expand its network, strengthening connectivity from its operations in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, creating specialized jobs, and contributing to the Dominican Republic’s positioning as one of the region’s leading air hubs.
