BARRIO (Pax News) – Caribbean low-cost airline Arajet launched its operations in Canada on Tuesday (Oct. 24) with direct flights between Toronto and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Toronto’s Pearson International Airport is one of 22 destinations offered by Arajet in the region.

The airline becomes the first to fly directly from Toronto to Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and the first city established on the America Continent.

The new link comes after the governments of Canada and the Dominican Republic signed an “open skies” agreement in February to remove restrictions for airlines from the two countries.

The bilateral air transport deal aims to ease the rules on frequency and routes in which carriers are operating.

To mark its Canadian debut, Arajet held an event at Toronto’s Hotel X, where they presented “the biggest drone show in the sky ever held in Toronto.”

The airline will fly out of Toronto four days per week – on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays – increasing the air connectivity between the two countries.

Making history

“Today, Arajet makes history by being the first Dominican airline to fly to Canada, providing new opportunities to grow business and tourism between our two nations,” said Victor Pacheco, founder and CEO of Arajet, yesterday.

“Arajet also establishes Santo Domingo as an exciting new Hub on the continent for Canadians, connecting them to more than 10 countries in the Americas, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Curacao, Aruba, and Colombia, with a low fare airline that does not compromise on customer service and experience.”

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Canada, Frank Hans Dannenberg, added that “The inauguration of this new air route by Arajet, S.A. is not only a business achievement, but also a significant step in the interconnection between Canada and the Latin American region, as it will strengthen the mobility between Canadians and Dominicans, at competitive prices.”

Meanwhile, Khalil Lamrabet, chief commercial officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, noted how the new route will link Toronto Pearson to a “new level of connectivity in Central and South America.”

“It’s just another way we are working to increase travel options for the millions of passengers who pass through our airport every year,” Lamrabet said.

Santo Domingo, with a cobblestoned historic core, the Zona Colonial, and historic buildings that date back to the 1500s, including a cathedral, is one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities.

Toronto Arajet travellers will enjoy tropical beaches 20 minutes from the airport, such as Boca Chica or Juan Dolio, as well as Bayahibe, just 45 minutes away.

Arajet also offers travel from Santo Domingo to the popular resorts and beaches of Punta Cana, which is less than two hours away and with no extra cost.

Tuesday’s event in Toronto was held with the support of The Boeing Company, which has been a strategic partner of Arajet, which has an order for up to 45 737 max 8 aircraft with the American manufacturer.

Arajet has an extensive route network of 22 destinations in 16 countries, more than 150 connections in North, Central and South America, interconnecting the entire continent at the lowest fare with industry-leading operational safety.

Arajet expects to fly more than 7 million passengers in the next five years through its Santo Domingo Hub, with increasingly convenient flights and fares to enhance connectivity between the Americas and the Caribbean.