Airlines Continue to Spread Wings Over Mexico

Airlines are responding to increasing U.S. and Canadianweekly flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco,
demand for service to Mexico by widening servicethus increasing its Mexico capacity by 22 percent.
options to the country's many destinations. WithThe carrier also plans to inaugurate non-stop services
greater air access, the airlines contribute to boostingbetween Los Angeles and La Paz, San Francisco and
international tourist arrivals.Cancún, and Seattle and Cancún, as well as
During the past six months, a mix of major airlinesbetween Portland, Oregon to both Los Cabos and
and low-cost carriers in the United States and CanadaPuerto Vallarta.
have enhanced service schedules to different partsNorthwest Airlines' announcement of additional
of Mexico through additional frequencies of existingweekday frequencies during the winter travel season
routes and the launch of new services.between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Mexico cities
"That airlines across the board are increasing flightAcapulco, Manzanillo and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. The
options to Mexico demonstrates the high degree ofairline, subject to government approval, will also
confidence the travel industry has in our country, andinclude service from Detroit to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
the interest travelers have in discovering Mexico forthat will operate from Jan. 20 through March 31,
themselves. Mexicans are known around the world2007, as well as a new service between Memphis
for their warmth and hospitality, and North Americanand Cozumel to operate on Saturdays from Feb. 17
travelers will be welcomed with open arms," saidthrough April 14, 2007.
Magdalena Carral, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board.Although Continental Airlines has not added new
Expansion of air transportation inbound to Mexico isservices in recent months, the airline is a strong
aligned with the goal of the Mexican government'splayer in the market currently operating more than
comprehensive, long-term tourism plan to increase580 flights weekly to 30 Mexican destinations from
the number of international visitors. With 21.9 millionTexas airports in Laredo, McCallen and Houston, as
visitors in 2005, the country is ranked seventh as anwell as from Newark's Liberty International Airport
international tourism destination according to Worldand Los Angeles. Continental did however, announce
Tourism Organization figures released in June.with Alitalia codeshare expansion already in place to
Among the airlines increasing flights is Delta Air Lines.provide improved transfer services between Italy,
In recent months, the Atlanta-based carrier initiatedCanada and Mexico.
new non-stop service to Mexico destinations such asCanadian airlines are also hovering over Mexico skies.
Acapulco, Merida, and Ixtapa from Atlanta; MazatlanAir Canada will add 25 more non-stop flights per
from Salt Lake City; and Puerto Vallarta and Acapulcoweek this winter between Canada and Mexico for a
from New York's John F. Kennedy Internationaltotal of 61 weekly. The new routes to Mexico include
Airport.service between Toronto to Cozumel and Ixtapa,
Frontier Airlines another carrier on the forefront toslated to begin mid-December, as well as a
expand service to Mexico, has announced plans toMontreal-Mexico City service introduced on June 17.
launch round-trip service between Denver andSunwing Airlines' announced plans to begin this fall to
Guadalajara. The service will mark the eighth Mexicanoperate one flight each between Montreal and
city to be served by Frontier. The four weekly flightsOttawa to Acapulco on Wednesdays and to Cancun
to Guadalajara, slated to begin Dec. 22, are part ofon Fridays. Earlier this year, Sunwing started service
Denver-based Frontier's plans to increase its Mexicanbetween Toronto and Cozumel and the airline will
service by 30 percent during the peak winter holidayoperate a Sudbury and Cancun route for the winter
season; Frontier will add flight frequencies fromseason from December through March 2007.
Denver to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo SanFor the winter season, Sunquest Airlines will also
Lucas. Frontier announced that it will begin new,begin services from Hamilton to Cancun and Riviera
non-stop service between San Diego and CancunMaya starting in December.
with one flight weekly starting Dec. 16.Mexican airlines also expand services
Adding three new Mexico routes this year, UnitedThe increased number of expanded routes, however,
Airlines' most recent launch was in July connectinghas not been limited to international services. Mexican
Chicago and Cancun. The carrier had initiated its Losairlines, particularly the low-cost carriers, are also
Angeles-Cancun and Chicago's-Puerto Vallarta routesboosting services. Private and semi-private airlines
in March. Together, United serves 16 routes betweensuch as Avolar, ABC Interjet and Volaris, as well as
the United States and Mexico excluding two seasonalMexicana Airline's carrier Click Mexicana have launched
routes, Denver-Mexico City and Denver-Ixtapa, whichlow-cost flights to different parts of Mexico. Aladia,
run during the winter months. The new flights toone of Mexico's newest airlines, is slated to launch
Mexico are offered via the United and the airline'sthis summer.
low-cost counterpart, Ted.Mexico's domestic service currently caters to
Seasonal flight services to be added during the winterapproximately 2.5 million passengers, representing
months will include American Airlines' announced planssome 6.5 percent of Mexican tourists who travel via
to start one round-trip, non-stop service weeklyair within the country.
from JFK to Mexico's San Jose del Cabo in the BajaFlying beyond Mexico borders, Mexican airlines
California region, effective Dec. 16 through April 9,Aeromexico and Mexicana operate daily routes
2007. The legacy airline, which has been operatingbetween JFK airport and Mexico City. Mexicana will
flights to the Mexico market since 1941, currentlyalso operate a route between Baltimore, Maryland
serves San Jose del Cabo with three flights dailyand its low-fare carrier Click Mexicana will launch a
from Dallas/Fort Worth, two daily from Los Angeles,Cancun-Miami flight later this summer. Avolar also
and three weekly flights from Chicago.plans to serve a select few of U.S. cities later this
Other flight additions to existing routes include serviceyear. Within Mexico, Aeromexico is increasing flight
by Alaska Airlines, which will lengthen its list ofofferings with new routes between Mexico City and
services to Mexico resort cities this fall with six moreVillahermosa, Merida and Cancun.