Colombia and Peru Air Traffic Soars as Arajet Expansion Pushes Regional Market Past Over Three Million Passengers

Colombia and Peru air traffic with the Dominican Republic is soaring as Arajet expansion helps push the wider Latin American market towards more than 3.2 million passengers in 2026. Colombia-Dominican Republic traffic is projected to reach about 1.3 million passengers this year, while the Peru market is expected to exceed 563,000, highlighting how new airline capacity, lower fares and stronger regional connectivity are expanding travel demand across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The figures form part of what Arajet describes as the “Arajet Effect” — its argument that introducing new competition and additional airline capacity has expanded the overall travel market rather than simply moving passengers from one airline to another.

The expansion is particularly significant for tourism because it strengthens connections between major South American markets and the Dominican Republic, one of the Caribbean’s largest leisure destinations.

Latin America-Dominican Republic Traffic Heads Above 3.2 Million

Passenger traffic between the Dominican Republic and Latin America has expanded sharply since 2022.

Around 1.3 million passengers travelled between the markets in 2022. By 2025, the figure had climbed to almost 2.8 million.

For 2026, traffic is projected to exceed 3.2 million passengers.

That represents growth of approximately 143% compared with 2022.

The figures show that growth is occurring across several markets rather than being concentrated in one country.

Colombia Reaches 1.3 Million Passenger Projection

Colombia has become one of the most important markets in the regional expansion.

Passenger traffic between Colombia and the Dominican Republic stood at approximately 729,000 in 2022. For 2026, the market is projected to reach around 1.3 million passengers.

That represents growth of roughly 78% in four years.

Air connectivity currently links the Dominican Republic with important Colombian cities including Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena.

For travellers, greater capacity can create more choice when planning Caribbean holidays, business journeys or trips visiting friends and relatives.

The growth also strengthens links between two major Latin American tourism markets. Colombia has expanded its international tourism profile, while the Dominican Republic continues to attract large numbers of leisure visitors to destinations including Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.

Peru Passenger Market More Than Doubles

Peru has recorded an even larger percentage increase.

Passenger traffic between Peru and the Dominican Republic stood at around 221,000 in 2022. The 2026 projection exceeds 563,000 passengers.

That represents an increase of approximately 155%.

Lima is an important aviation gateway for South America, and expanded connectivity with the Dominican Republic creates opportunities for both point-to-point journeys and connecting travel.

Arajet currently markets direct Lima-Santo Domingo services alongside connections from Lima to destinations elsewhere in its network.

This connectivity can help travellers combine South American and Caribbean destinations while also opening additional routing options towards North America and other parts of the region.

Argentina Records One of the Largest Percentage Increases

Argentina provides another striking example of the changing market.

Passenger traffic between Argentina and the Dominican Republic was approximately 71,000 in 2022. It is projected to exceed 425,000 in 2026.

That means the market has expanded to roughly six times its 2022 size.

Arajet’s network now includes several Argentine destinations, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and Rosario.

For Argentine travellers, additional competition creates more options for reaching the Caribbean. For the Dominican tourism industry, stronger connections provide access to another important South American outbound market.

The Arajet Effect Explained

Arajet began operations in 2022 with a low-cost model designed around expanding connectivity between the Dominican Republic and destinations across the Americas.

The airline argues that its expansion has stimulated new demand rather than merely taking passengers away from existing carriers.

This distinction matters.

When a new airline enters a market with additional capacity and competitive fares, several things can happen:

• More people may be able to afford international travel
• Travellers may take trips more frequently
• New destinations can become practical holiday options
• Existing airlines may respond with additional capacity
• Tourism businesses can gain access to new visitor markets
• Connecting journeys can become easier
• Competition can encourage wider fare choice

Arajet says other airlines serving the Dominican Republic have also grown during the period of its expansion.

That suggests the overall market has become larger as capacity and competition have increased.

Established Airlines Remain Important to Regional Growth

The expansion cannot be attributed to one carrier alone.

Airlines including LATAM Airlines, Avianca, Aeroméxico, Aerolíneas Argentinas and SKY Airline also operate important services across Latin America and contribute to the wider connectivity available to travellers.

This makes the passenger growth a broader aviation story.

Arajet has provided new competition and capacity, but established carriers continue to play major roles in linking South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The result is an increasingly interconnected regional aviation market.

Arajet Expands Its Network Across the Americas

Arajet’s current network illustrates how rapidly its geographical reach has developed.

The airline markets flights involving destinations across Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States.

Its Dominican Republic operations are centred on Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.

This network structure allows the carrier to pursue both direct passenger demand and connecting traffic.

Instead of viewing the Dominican Republic only as a final holiday destination, the airline wants the country to develop a larger role as an aviation connection point between North America, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Fleet Expansion Could Support Further Growth

Arajet is planning further expansion.

The airline has outlined plans to build a fleet of 25 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and develop a network reaching 35 destinations across 20 countries.

Its longer-term strategy centres on strengthening the Dominican Republic’s role as an aviation hub for the Americas.

Additional aircraft could allow the airline to increase frequencies on existing routes while opening new destinations.

That matters because frequency can be almost as important as the number of destinations served.

More frequent flights give travellers greater flexibility and can make short holidays, business trips and connecting journeys easier to organise.

Tourism Could Be a Major Beneficiary

The aviation expansion has important implications for the Dominican Republic’s tourism economy.

Greater connectivity with Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and other Latin American markets can diversify the country’s international visitor base.

Historically, Caribbean tourism has depended heavily on large North American and European source markets.

Stronger intra-Latin American connectivity creates another growth channel.

Visitors arriving from South America generate spending across hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport businesses, shopping centres and tourism services.

More flights can also encourage two-way tourism, allowing Dominican travellers greater access to destinations across Latin America.

Competitive Fares Can Unlock New Demand

Low-cost aviation can be particularly important in price-sensitive markets.

Airfares represent a substantial part of the cost of an international holiday. When more airlines compete on a route, travellers may gain access to a wider range of fares and schedules.

Lower entry-level fares do not mean every journey becomes cheaper because baggage, seat selection and other optional services can increase the final ticket price.

However, the availability of additional fare choices can make international travel possible for passengers who previously considered it too expensive.

That can expand the overall traveller base rather than simply shifting existing customers between airlines.

Regional Connectivity Enters a New Phase

The latest passenger figures show how rapidly travel patterns between Latin America and the Caribbean are changing.

Colombia’s projected 1.3 million passengers demonstrate the scale already reached by one of the largest markets.

Peru’s rise from 221,000 to more than 563,000 illustrates how quickly a smaller market can expand when capacity and connectivity improve.

Argentina’s growth from roughly 71,000 to more than 425,000 is even more dramatic.

Together, these markets show that regional aviation demand is no longer dependent only on traditional routes and established travel patterns.

Conclusion: Colombia and Peru Air Traffic Soars as Arajet Expansion Pushes Regional Market Past 3.2 Million Passengers

Colombia and Peru air traffic is soaring as Arajet expansion helps push the Latin America-Dominican Republic market beyond a projected 3.2 million passengers in 2026, driven by additional capacity, stronger airline competition, expanding networks and growing demand for regional travel.

Colombia is projected to reach around 1.3 million passengers, compared with 729,000 in 2022. Peru is expected to exceed 563,000, up from 221,000, while Argentina is projected to rise from approximately 71,000 to more than 425,000 passengers.

The wider market has consequently expanded by about 143% compared with 2022.

Arajet describes this expansion as the “Arajet Effect”, arguing that additional competition has created new travellers rather than simply redistributing existing passengers. The simultaneous presence and expansion of other major Latin American airlines means the trend is also part of a wider transformation in regional aviation.

For travellers, the most important result is greater connectivity. For tourism destinations, it means access to larger and more diverse visitor markets. And for the Dominican Republic, the growth supports an ambitious strategy to strengthen its position as an aviation bridge between the Caribbean and the rest of the Americas.