Arajet is a low-cost carrier based in Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic. On Monday, Simple Flying had the opportunity to travel with Arajet onboard its flight DM4341 from Mexico City to Santo Domingo. We traveled onboard the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration HI1026. This is our trip report.
What to expect with Arajet?
The Dominican low-cost carrier is looking to create a hub in Santo Domingo. Arajet launched operations in September 2022. Similar to what Viva did at Medellín International Airport (MDE), Arajet is opening many international routes with low fares, employing SDQ’s advantageous geographic position. As of December, the airline flies to 18 destinations across the Americas. On Tuesday, Simple Flying was onboard the opening of the airline’s 18th route to Bogota, Colombia.
Arajet’s Boeing 737 MAX 8s have the capacity to carry 185 passengers in a two-class configuration. The first two rows have a 2-2 configuration. From row three and beyond, the layout is 3-3. We traveled on seat 3A, and it was fabulous. The seat pitch on the third row is enormous, and we recommend it vastly. The seat pitch in the other rows is nothing out of the ordinary.
The airline has an order for up to 35 Boeing 737 MAX 8s (employing Ryanair’s 8-200 variant). Once these planes arrive, we can expect a higher seat density, maybe impacting our beloved row three.
Onboard, we find a standard service by a low-cost carrier with snacks and beverages for purchase, including an interesting alcohol menu. Arajet receives payments with currency (US dollars or Dominican pesos) and credit card payments. Nonetheless, the credit card service was unavailable during our flight.
Boarding Arajet’s flight DM4341
We departed from Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU). This is our trip report departing from this hub. Arajet is one of the few airlines to operate international flights from this recently opened hub. The others are Copa Airlines, Conviasa, and Viva Aerobus, flying to Panama City, Caracas, and Havana, respectively.
The boarding process was fast and easy, mainly because the flight had a load factor of around 30%. Arajet opened its flights to Mexico City in September and is still struggling to become a known brand among Mexican travelers. The service from Santo Domingo to Mexico City is far busier than the service from Mexico City to Santo Domingo.
The overall service of Arajet’s crew was flawless. They were kind, heart-warmed, and friendly to everyone onboard. The pilots had constant communication with the passengers reminding us about the possibility of acquiring snacks and beverages.
The flight departed on time, lasting around four hours and five minutes. We had a remote stand (low-cost carriers don’t always like to pay for jet bridges), but we are not complaining. As journalists and avgeeks, having the possibility of getting off an aircraft remotely, instead of using a jet bridge, is always exciting because it creates the opportunity to take great photos.
What could be better?
The main point of complaint would be that it is impossible to acquire snacks and beverages onboard if you don’t carry US dollars or Dominican pesos, which is something passengers are unaware of. Apart from that, the service was excellent in both airports and onboard. Disembarking at Santo Domingo’s airport, and going through passport control and customs, was a seamless experience. We were out of the airport in ten minutes, which is remarkable.
We also had an interview with the company's CEO and met with many senior members of the airline. Yesterday, we published a report about it which you can read here: Exclusive: Big Plans For New Dominican Republic Flag Carrier Arajet.
Would you like to travel onboard Arajet? Which routes and destinations currently offered by the company are the most exciting to you? Let us know in the comments below.