Arajet Arrives at O’Hare, Connecting the Midwest to the Dominican Republic

CHICAGO – Arajet, the flagship Dominican airline, today inaugurated its first route in the U.S. Midwest, connecting Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) with Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The new service strengthens Arajet’s growing presence in the United States, marking its fifth operating destination in the U.S. and expanding the Dominican Republic’s reach as the Caribbean’s premier air hub.

“Flying to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, one of the most important airports in the world, represents an exciting new chapter for Arajet as we continue expanding across the United States,” said Manuel Luna, Chief Communications Officer of Arajet.

“This milestone opens the skies for travelers from the Midwest to experience Punta Cana’s beauty and connect with the rest of the region, while also giving the Dominican community in Chicago a direct and affordable means to travel home.”

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world with over 80 million passengers each year who will benefit from Arajet’s new route to Punta Cana.

Operating three times per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, it provides Chicago and Midwestern travelers with direct access to one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations—just in time for the winter and holiday travel surge from the region to the Caribbean as travelers seek beaches and warm weather.

As Arajet’s second hub, Punta Cana will also seamlessly connect passengers to 9 destinations across Latin America, including São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima, and Mexico City.

“We are proud to welcome Arajet’s new service to Punta Cana at O’Hare International Airport,” said Commissioner Michael McMurray of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), which owns and operates both O’Hare and Midway International Airports.

“This new route strengthens Chicago’s global connectivity and offers travelers an escape to warm weather just ahead of the winter season, as well as providing Chicagoans of Dominican and Latin descent with a convenient option to visit loved ones back home aboard their nation’s flag carrier.”

The launch of this route represents a significant milestone in Arajet’s U.S. expansion strategy, as the airline continues to experience record demand for its high-value model that combines world-class service with a modern Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

Following the addition of flights to Miami, Orlando, and New York earlier this year, Arajet ranked as the third-largest airline by passenger volume in the Dominican Republic—behind JetBlue and American Airlines, and ahead of Delta, United, and Copa—according to the Civil Aviation Board (JAC).

Between July and September 2025, the airline carried more than 354,000 passengers, accounting for approximately 7.3% of total air traffic to and from the country, including over 50,000 connecting travelers.

The next step on Arajet’s U.S. expansion is a new route from Boston starting November 21, 2025, rounding out the network as the sixth operating route launched this year.

Learn more about Arajet or book a flight at arajet.com.

Arajet is the flagship airline of the Dominican Republic. After beginning operations in 2022, it operates two bases, in Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana International Airport, with a new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft fleet. The airline provides safe and affordable travel to and between the Dominican Republic and various destinations in North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.arajet.com