Arajet, the low-cost airline from the Dominican Republic, made a change in its Colombian offer suspending its flights from Santo Domingo/Las Américas to Cali, Colombia (CLO) and Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ).
This measure, as per recent modifications in reservation systems, is likely due to the low levels of occupancy in both destinations. In February of 2023, Arajet made the same decision with Monterrey, Mexico (MTY).
According to Aerocivil data, between September 2022 and May 2023, Arajet moved 53,290 passengers between Colombia and the Dominican Republic, with an average occupancy of 40%.
However, flights to Barranquilla recorded an average occupancy of 33% transporting 7,274 travelers, while in Cali, with 9,332 passengers, it reached only 26% occupancy.
The last flight to Cali will take place on July 31, while to Barranquilla it will be on August 25. From then on, Arajet will maintain its operations only to Cartagena (CTG) with three weekly flights, Bogotá (BOG) with two flights per week, and Medellín/Rionegro (MDE) with five weekly flights.
Aviacionline contacted Arajet for comments, but received no response prior to the publication of this story.
Current Situation of Arajet
According to the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) of the Dominican Republic, Arajet moved 177,561 passengers during the first half of 2023, being the leading airline in the country.
Although these cuts represent a challenge for the airline, Arajet remains focused on its growth and expansion plan in Latin America. The company recently announced its arrival in São Paulo/Guarulhos, Brazil (GRU); Toronto, Canada (YYZ); and Santiago, Chile (SCL). In addition, it has plans to expand to Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the United States.
With the aim of creating a connection hub in Santo Domingo/Las Américas and improving accessibility to all its destinations, Arajet is betting strongly on growth. Except for the Colombian cities mentioned earlier, from October, its destinations will be composed of a variety of options in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Arajet plans to end 2023 with double its current fleet, which consists of five Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a capacity for 185 passengers. However, it has an order for 35 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200, the high-density version of the MAX that can accommodate up to 210 passengers.
