Air connectivity between the Dominican Republic and Peru has reached historic milestones, recording a 171% surge in visitor arrivals residing in the South American nation. This unprecedented rebound is directly linked to the entry of Dominican ultra-low-cost carrier Arajet into the Peruvian market in September 2022, consolidating a sustained tourism flow according to the latest reports from the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic (MITUR) at the close of the first quarter of 2026.
Sustained Growth in Passenger Traffic
The market’s revitalization is evident when comparing the current landscape with the years preceding the commencement of the airline’s operations.
- First Quarter of 2026: The Dominican Republic welcomed 40,064 visitors residing in Peru.
- The Turning Point: This figure represents nearly 26,000 additional passengers compared to the same period in 2022, a time when Arajet did not yet operate the route.
This demand growth has been accompanied by a notable strengthening of capacity and flight offerings by sector operators.
→ Arajet Launches Punta Cana–Mendoza Route, Consolidating Argentina Expansion
Operational Consolidation and Load Factors
During 2025, routes between both countries moved a total of 264,526 passengers across 1,844 flights, offering 320,292 seats to the market with an average load factor of 83%.
Far from stabilizing, this trend accelerated significantly during the first quarter of 2026:
| Operational Metric | First Quarter 2026 |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Flights | 451 |
| Available Seats | 79,388 |
| Passengers Carried | 70,051 |
| Average Load Factor | 89% |
Performance by Main Routes
- Punta Cana – Lima: This remains the primary tourism corridor between both nations. It recorded 1,715 operations during 2025 and 416 flights in the first quarter of 2026.
- Santo Domingo – Lima: This route shows accelerated consolidation, boosting its average load factor from 67% in 2025 to 86% during the first three months of 2026.
Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet, defines this phenomenon as “The Arajet Effect.” According to the executive, the introduction of increased competition not only benefits his airline by expanding travel alternatives, but also stimulates and expands the market for all operators, allowing more people the opportunity to fly.
Digital Strategy and Peruvian Tourist Profile
The market impact is also a response to aggressive digital promotion strategies implemented by MITUR. Data from 2026 reveals the behavior of the Peruvian consumer:
- Information Sourcing: 94% of visitors indicated they use social media to research tourist destinations.
- Advertising Impact: 73% stated they had seen advertising for the Dominican Republic on digital platforms such as social media and Google.
- Travel Motivation: Beaches remain the main draw, chosen by 85% of respondents as the primary reason for visiting the destination.
Customer satisfaction backs the continued success of the route. At the close of 2025, 94% of Peruvian tourists stated they would return to the country, while 62% assured they would recommend it to family and friends, giving an overall rating of 4.4 out of a total of 5 stars.
Operational and commercial results confirm that the move to directly connect Lima with Santo Domingo and Punta Cana has revitalized the market. With these metrics, Arajet reaffirms its strategy to strengthen regional air connectivity to capture a larger share of Latin American travelers, consolidating the Dominican Republic as one of the most competitive tourism hubs in the Caribbean.
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