Arajet inaugurates its new route to Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Arajet, the Dominican Republic's flag carrier, inaugurated its first route in the U.S. Midwest today, connecting Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) with Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). This new service strengthens Arajet's growing presence in the United States, marking its fifth destination in the country and expanding the Dominican Republic's reach as the Caribbean's leading air hub.

“Flying to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, one of the world’s most important airports, represents an exciting new chapter for Arajet as we continue to expand in the United States,” said Manuel Luna, Chief Communications Officer of Arajet. “This milestone opens the skies for travelers in the Midwest to discover the beauty of Punta Cana and connect with the rest of the region, while also providing the Dominican community in Chicago with a direct and affordable option to travel home.”

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is one of the world's busiest, handling over 80 million passengers annually, who can now benefit from Arajet's new route to Punta Cana. Operating three times a week—Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays—this service offers travelers from Chicago and the Midwest direct access to one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations, just in time for the winter season when demand for travel to warm-weather beach destinations increases. As Arajet's second hub, Punta Cana will also seamlessly connect passengers to nine destinations in 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 Michael McMurray, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), which manages O’Hare and Midway airports. “This new route strengthens Chicago’s global connectivity and offers travelers a warm-weather escape just before winter, while also providing Chicagoans of Dominican and Latino descent with a convenient option to visit loved ones back home.”

“The launch of this route represents a significant step in Arajet’s expansion strategy in the United States, as the airline continues to experience record demand for its high-value model, which combines world-class service with a modern fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Following the addition of flights to Miami, Orlando, and New York earlier this year, Arajet positioned itself as the third-largest airline in terms of passenger volume in the Dominican Republic—behind only 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 transported more than 354,000 passengers, representing approximately 7.3% of total air traffic to and from the country, including more than 50,000 connecting passengers.”

The next step in Arajet's expansion in the United States will be the launch of its new route from Boston starting November 21, 2025, becoming the sixth route launched this year.

Source: Arajet.