Cruise 360 ​​Brazil: Deborah Daloia, Head of Sales and Marketing at Arajet in Brazil, highlights the expansion of routes and connections in the Americas

Arajet bets on Brazil as a strategic market at Cruise 360 ​​Brazil, held on March 14th and 15th at the Santos Convention Center in Santos. The event brought together companies, destinations, and tourism professionals to discuss opportunities and strengthen the maritime and air travel sector in Latin America. Among the exhibitors was Arajet, a Caribbean airline from the Dominican Republic, which has been expanding its presence in Brazil.

Deborah Daloia, Head of Sales and Marketing at Arajet in Brazil, highlighted that the country plays an important role in the company's expansion strategy, which began operations here less than two years ago.

According to her, the company started by connecting São Paulo to Santo Domingo and, eight months ago, began operating direct flights between São Paulo and Punta Cana. "In Brazil, it's been operating for almost two years, for a year and eight months, with one year operating from Santo Domingo, São Paulo, Santo Domingo, and for eight months now the flight has been operating directly between São Paulo and Punta Cana," Daloia explained.

Hub in Punta Cana expands connections across the continent.

Connectivity is one of the main pillars of the company's strategy. Arajet's main hub is located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from where flights depart to various destinations in the Americas.

Today, the company connects passengers to a broad international network that includes the Caribbean, North America, Central America, and South America.

"Today our main hub is Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. In addition to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, we are flying to Kingston, Jamaica, to..." 

"Saint-Martin, to Aruba, to Curaçao, Puerto Rico," explained Deborah Daloia.

The air network also includes major cities in the United States, such as New York, Orlando, Miami, Chicago, and Boston, as well as routes to Canada, Mexico, and various destinations in Latin America.

According to Daloia, the expansion has been accelerating. "Today we already have 29 destinations in 15 countries and we have 14 aircraft, with six more arriving this year," he stated.

Private airline with strategic support from Dominican tourism.

Although not a state-owned company, Arajet maintains a strong institutional partnership with the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic.

The company is majority-owned by an American investment fund and was structured to support the growth of the country's international connectivity.

“Today our president is one of the company's partners, Víctor Pacheco, who is our CEO. A large part of Arajet belongs to an American investment fund called Bain Capital,” explained Deborah Daloia.

Even though it's a private company, it operates in line with Dominican tourism development plans. "Despite not being a government entity, we have a very strategic alliance with the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic," he stated.

According to her, the country is investing over 400 million dollars in infrastructure and air connectivity projects to consolidate itself as one of the main hubs in the Americas.

Combined trips enhance passenger experiences.

Among the options offered by the company is the creation of itineraries with multiple destinations, allowing passengers to combine different cities in a single trip.

According to Daloia, the current system allows for the creation of customized routes with strategic stops.

"Actually, today we sell multi-segment tickets. People can customize their fare by making a strategic stop in the Dominican Republic and then continuing to another destination," he explained.

A common example is a passenger who decides to split their trip between the Caribbean and the United States.

"For example, she goes to Punta Cana, from Punta Cana she goes to Orlando, stays for five days and then returns from Miami," he stated.

This model allows for greater flexibility and can be adapted to each traveler's profile.

Proprietary portal expands access for travel agents.

Arajet is also investing in digital tools to get closer to the Brazilian tourism distribution market.

According to Deborah Daloia, the company offers direct access to travel agents, even without requiring an IATA code.

"Today, I don't require IATA certification to issue tickets with us. We have a direct website where agents can register," he explained.

The system allows users to manage reservations, create groups, and access rates directly on the platform. The company also maintains partnerships with tour operators and consolidators, expanding sales options.

The executive also highlighted that new features are being implemented to adapt the system to the Brazilian market.

"Now I'm starting to implement installment plans and local payment options, because until now, card payments were only accepted from outside the country," he said.

Innovations that differentiate the passenger experience.

Among the company's distinguishing features is the possibility of transferring the name on the ticket, a functionality that is uncommon in the airline industry.

“If something goes wrong and I can’t board, you can transfer this ticket to someone else by paying a single transfer fee,” explained Deborah Daloia.

Another point highlighted was the pet transport policy, which allows pets in the cabin within established limits.

"Today we allow up to six animals on board and up to 10 kilos in the cabin," he stated.

These initiatives are part of the company's strategy to offer greater flexibility to passengers.

Modern fleet and technology-focused onboard experience

Arajet currently operates Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, considered among the most modern on the market.

"Today our fleet is the newest in the Americas. My latest plane arrived less than two weeks ago," said Deborah Daloia.

All planes have an economy configuration, but some aircraft feature wider seats in the first few rows, sold as a premium option.

The company's proposal also focuses on digital connectivity as a form of entertainment during the flight.

"The idea behind Arajet is to have internet access. We want each customer to bring their own device, and we will provide the entertainment," he explained.

Until full implementation occurs, the company recommends that passengers bring pre-downloaded content.

In-flight service combines included items and additional options.

In its in-flight service, the company adopts a hybrid model. On flights longer than four hours, such as the route between Brazil and the Caribbean, coffee and water are offered free of charge.

Other items can be purchased during the flight or in advance when booking.

"Food and other beverages are sold separately. People can buy them on the plane or include them in their reservation in advance," explained Deborah Daloia.

Passengers can also purchase combo meals with savory and sweet snacks and drinks, which are delivered during the flight without the need for additional payment at the time of service.

Air connectivity strengthens tourism integration in the Americas.

Arajet's presence at Cruise 360 ​​Brazil reinforces the role of air connectivity in the development of international tourism and in strengthening cruise routes.

By expanding flight options and facilitating access to destinations in the Caribbean and the Americas, the company contributes to integrating different travel experiences, creating opportunities for both passengers and the market for travel agencies and tour operators.

Arajet's partnership with Costa Cruises

The partnership between Arajet and Costa Cruises aims to strengthen air connections between Brazil and the Dominican Republic, expanding embarkation possibilities for Caribbean itineraries. Carlos Coscione, Director of R&C Businesses Italy at Costa Cruises, explains that the airline's direct flight facilitates integration with cruises in the region. “It's a product that fits very well with the Caribbean program. The direct flight greatly helps with the air package, and we see a lot of potential in this partnership,” he stated.

Reporting and photo: Mary de Aquino.