Arajet, a new Dominican ultralow-cost carrier, plans to launch service this spring.
The Santo Domingo-based airline took delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max-8 jet on Monday. It plans to begin operations with flights within the Caribbean and to Central America.
Arajet expects to launch U.S. routes later in the year, serving cities with significant Dominican populations, including New York, Boston, Miami and Chicago, according to aircraft lessor Griffin Global Asset Management. Griffin and Bain Capital are Arajet's primary financial backers.
Arajet and Boeing revealed on Monday that the nascent carrier has ordered 20 Max-8s, with an option on 15 additional planes. In addition, Arajet has lease agreements on five aircraft.
Arajet's two top executives are Victor Pacheco, former president of Dominican Wings, and Mike Powell, former CFO of Hungarian ultralow-cost carrier Wizz Air.
Dominican Wings was a charter carrier that ceased operations in 2018, with plans to relaunch as a scheduled carrier under the Arajet brand.