Arajet began its direct flights between Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this Saturday, November 15. This route becomes the airline's fifth destination in the United States and its first in the U.S. Midwest.

The operation will feature three weekly frequencies, scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays. According to information provided by the airline, this schedule offers more than 2,200 seats per week on its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Manuel Luna, Arajet's Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, explained that this new route "opens the skies to connect Chicago with the beauty of Punta Cana, and from there with the rest of the region, while offering the Dominican community in Chicago a direct and affordable means to travel to their country."

Arajet began Punta Cana-Chicago service, solidifying its continental hub strategy

Competition and market

With this launch, Arajet enters into direct competition on the O'Hare to Punta Cana route with American Airlines and United Airlines. which operate year-round. Additionally, in peak season Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines fly to Punta Cana, the latter from Chicago-Midway.

The focus on Chicago aligns with a market identified as strategic by the Dominican Ministry of Tourism. According to data from the agency, more than 138,000 tourists flew from Chicago to the Dominican Republic during 2024.

The airline also highlighted that the route aims to capture connecting passengers. Arajet expects the flight to serve as a gateway to connect from Chicago to destinations such as Buenos Aires and Córdoba in Argentina, Cancún in Mexico, and Lima in Peru, through its hub in Punta Cana.