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Startup budget carrier Arajet set for first US routes as it tries to build a Caribbean hub
Edward Russell
Contributor
Edward Russell is a contributor for TPG. An AvGeek at heart, he covered the airline business at FlightGlobal for eight years and previously covered finance in New York and Hong Kong.
Feb. 17, 2025
•
3 min read
Startup budget carrier Arajet set for first US routes as it tries to build a Caribbean hub
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Dominican airline Arajet will make its U.S. debut this spring with flights to Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, a key step in realizing its dream of building a Pan-American hub in Santo Domingo.
The budget carrier will begin flights to Miami International Airport (MIA) from Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) on April 11. Then, on June 5, it will add flights to San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) from SDQ. Both routes will operate six days a week.
Arajet will also link MIA and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) four days a week from June 13.
Where to stay? Best all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic
Later in June, Arajet plans to connect New York and Santo Domingo as well. No start date for this route has been provided yet.
“Beginning U.S. operations with flights from these cities is the next step towards realizing our vision of the [Dominican Republic] as a new travel hub of the continent,” Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet, said in a statement. “This is the beginning of our U.S. operations, and these routes will expand tourism in our region, making it easier for travelers to discover our country and connect to exciting destinations in neighboring Caribbean islands as well as Central and South America.”
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Airfares for Arajet’s new U.S. routes start at $84 one-way.
Founded in 2022, Arajet wants to develop Santo Domingo — the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic — into a connecting hub linking North and South America. The airline envisions something similar to Copa Airlines' "Hub of the Americas" at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
Arajet flies an all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet with 10 737-8s in service and another 20 737-8200s on order. At the end of last year, the carrier served 21 cities in Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America from its bases in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, according to schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Arajet faces stiff competition in its U.S. expansion. American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and SkyHigh Dominicana fly the Miami-Santo Domingo route, while American, Frontier and LATAM fly the Miami-Punta Cana route, Cirium schedules show. Additionally, Frontier, JetBlue and SkyHigh Dominicana fly the San Juan-Santo Domingo route.
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Featured image by ARAJET
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.