Arajet Reports Record Passenger Numbers for January in Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO – Arajet, the flag carrier of the Dominican Republic, achieved a historic milestone in January, transporting a record number of passengers and solidifying its position in the Caribbean aviation market. According to official data from the country's Junta de Aviación Civil (JAC), the airline carried more than 175,000 passengers during the month, marking its best performance since beginning operations.

This sustained growth underscores Arajet's aggressive expansion strategy, which focuses on establishing Santo Domingo as a major low-cost hub connecting North and South America. The January figures not only represent a new company record but also demonstrate the airline's increasing influence, capturing a dominant share of the domestic market and ranking among the top three carriers in the country when accounting for connecting traffic.

January Performance in Detail

The report published by the JAC provides a detailed breakdown of Arajet's performance. The airline transported 158,688 point-to-point passengers in January. This figure, which excludes travelers connecting through its network, already places it among the top carriers. When including connecting passengers, the total volume exceeded 175,000 people, a first for the airline.

Based on this data, Arajet ranked as the fourth-largest airline by passenger volume in the Dominican market, trailing only major US carriers JetBlue, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. However, the inclusion of its connecting traffic elevates Arajet to the third position. This marks the seventh consecutive month the airline has secured a top-three spot, a significant achievement for a relatively new entrant. The official statistics and regulatory framework for Dominican aviation are governed by Law 491/06, which established the JAC.

Víctor Pacheco, founder and CEO of Arajet, commented on the strong start to the year. "2026 started exactly as we expected, with extraordinary numbers in January both in operations and sales," he stated. "February is also projecting very positive results, so we remain optimistic about the performance of this first quarter of the year. We remain focused on turning the Dominican Republic into the new air hub of the continent."

Domestic Market Dominance

Beyond its overall ranking, Arajet has established near-total dominance among Dominican-based airlines. In January, the carrier transported 91.2% of all passengers who flew with national airlines, setting another historic record for its market share.

This figure highlights the significant gap between Arajet and its local competitors. According to the same JAC report, Sky High Aviation Services accounted for 4.4% of the domestic passenger share, followed by Air Century with 2.2% and Red Air with 1.8%. This market consolidation under Arajet strengthens its role as the de facto national carrier and provides a strong foundation for its international expansion plans.

Strategic Context and Growth Trajectory

The record-breaking January follows a year of significant expansion for the airline. In 2025, Arajet transported a total of 1.48 million passengers, representing a 37% increase from the previous year. This growth is driven by its low-cost carrier (LCC) model, which has successfully stimulated demand in price-sensitive markets across the Americas.

The airline's strategy is explicitly focused on leveraging the Dominican Republic's geographic position to create a new continental hub, aiming to compete with established connection points like Panama City's Tocumen International Airport. This approach aligns with broader trends in the Dominican aviation sector, which saw its highest-ever volume of international passenger traffic in January. By offering affordable fares and a growing network of destinations, Arajet is not only boosting its own traffic but also contributing to the country's overall connectivity.

What Comes Next

Looking ahead, Arajet plans to continue its regional expansion. The airline's strategy involves adding new routes to its network and increasing frequencies on existing popular services. The positive outlook for February, as mentioned by CEO Víctor Pacheco, suggests that the growth momentum from January is expected to continue through the first quarter of the year.

The carrier's success will depend on its ability to manage this rapid growth, maintain operational efficiency, and secure further market access in key Latin American and North American markets. Continued strong performance will be critical to realizing its ambition of transforming Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo into a primary hub for the region.

Why This Matters

Arajet's rapid ascent is a significant development for the Caribbean aviation landscape. It demonstrates the powerful potential of the low-cost carrier model to disrupt established markets and create new traffic flows. The airline's success challenges the dominance of legacy carriers and established hubs, signaling a potential shift in regional air travel dynamics and positioning the Dominican Republic as a more formidable player in the industry.

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