Representative Adriano Espaillat Urges DOT Approval of Arajet Application to Secure Consumer Flights to the Caribbean

WASHINGTON, DC -- This week, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) sent a letter to United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging an exemption for Arajet S.A., a Dominican-based airline company, and its application to offer consumer flights between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. cities of San Juan, PR; Miami, FL, and New York, NY.  

Key excerpt from the letter: 

“I write today on behalf of my constituents regarding the pending application of the Dominican-based airline company Arajet S.A. (“Arajet”) for an exemption from Department of Transportation (DOT) rules that would allow Arajet to offer consumer flights between the Dominican Republic and the important hub cities of San Juan, Miami, and New York. It is my view that Arajet receiving this exemption would significantly increase affordable consumer air travel options available to my district’s numerous Dominican American and Puerto Rican diaspora constituents. As such, I ask that Arajet’s application for this exemption receive full and fair consideration from the DOT, in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and procedures,” wrote Espaillat. 

Adding, the exemption “has the potential to drive down prices on flights, increase flight options, and serve as an economic boon for Caribbean families throughout the United States," the letter concluded. 
 
Rep. Espaillat has been a leading voice to ensure airline consumer protections, including his call in opposition to JetBlue’s anticompetitive, price-gauging practices and more recently with his support of the Dominican Republic (US-DR) Open Skies Agreement that would increase the number of flights between the U.S. and Dominican Republic, lower airfare costs, and increase tourism and economic growth in the region. Rep. Espaillat is appreciative of Secretary Buttigieg’s ongoing leadership and is encouraged that Arajet’s application will receive due consideration from the DOT especially as families begin to travel during the holiday season when airline flights often prove prohibitively expensive.
 
The full text of Espaillat’s letter may be found here. 

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov