| Airlines are responding to increasing | | | | Airlines, which will lengthen its list |
| U.S. and Canadian demand for service to | | | | of services to Mexico resort cities this |
| Mexico by widening service options to | | | | fall with six more weekly flights from |
| the country's many destinations. With | | | | Los Angeles and San Francisco, thus |
| greater air access, the airlines | | | | increasing its Mexico capacity by 22 |
| contribute to boosting international | | | | percent. The carrier also plans to |
| tourist arrivals. | | | | inaugurate non-stop services between Los |
| During the past six months, a mix of | | | | Angeles and La Paz, San Francisco and |
| major airlines and low-cost carriers in | | | | Cancún, and Seattle and Cancún, as |
| the United States and Canada have | | | | well as between Portland, Oregon to both |
| enhanced service schedules to different | | | | Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. |
| parts of Mexico through additional | | | | Northwest Airlines' announcement of |
| frequencies of existing routes and the | | | | additional weekday frequencies during |
| launch of new services. | | | | the winter travel season between |
| "That airlines across the board are | | | | Minneapolis/St. Paul and Mexico cities |
| increasing flight options to Mexico | | | | Acapulco, Manzanillo and Ixtapa |
| demonstrates the high degree of | | | | Zihuatanejo. The airline, subject to |
| confidence the travel industry has in | | | | government approval, will also include |
| our country, and the interest travelers | | | | service from Detroit to Ixtapa |
| have in discovering Mexico for | | | | Zihuatanejo that will operate from Jan. |
| themselves. Mexicans are known around | | | | 20 through March 31, 2007, as well as a |
| the world for their warmth and | | | | new service between Memphis and Cozumel |
| hospitality, and North American | | | | to operate on Saturdays from Feb. 17 |
| travelers will be welcomed with open | | | | through April 14, 2007. |
| arms," said Magdalena Carral, CEO of the | | | | Although Continental Airlines has not |
| Mexico Tourism Board. | | | | added new services in recent months, the |
| Expansion of air transportation inbound | | | | airline is a strong player in the market |
| to Mexico is aligned with the goal of | | | | currently operating more than 580 |
| the Mexican government's comprehensive, | | | | flights weekly to 30 Mexican |
| long-term tourism plan to increase the | | | | destinations from Texas airports in |
| number of international visitors. With | | | | Laredo, McCallen and Houston, as well as |
| 21.9 million visitors in 2005, the | | | | from Newark's Liberty International |
| country is ranked seventh as an | | | | Airport and Los Angeles. Continental did |
| international tourism destination | | | | however, announce with Alitalia |
| according to World Tourism Organization | | | | codeshare expansion already in place to |
| figures released in June. | | | | provide improved transfer services |
| Among the airlines increasing flights is | | | | between Italy, Canada and Mexico. |
| Delta Air Lines. In recent months, the | | | | Canadian airlines are also hovering over |
| Atlanta-based carrier initiated new | | | | Mexico skies. Air Canada will add 25 |
| non-stop service to Mexico destinations | | | | more non-stop flights per week this |
| such as Acapulco, Merida, and Ixtapa | | | | winter between Canada and Mexico for a |
| from Atlanta; Mazatlan from Salt Lake | | | | total of 61 weekly. The new routes to |
| City; and Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco | | | | Mexico include service between Toronto |
| from New York's John F. Kennedy | | | | to Cozumel and Ixtapa, slated to begin |
| International Airport. | | | | mid-December, as well as a |
| Frontier Airlines another carrier on the | | | | Montreal-Mexico City service introduced |
| forefront to expand service to Mexico, | | | | on June 17. |
| has announced plans to launch round-trip | | | | Sunwing Airlines' announced plans to |
| service between Denver and Guadalajara. | | | | begin this fall to operate one flight |
| The service will mark the eighth Mexican | | | | each between Montreal and Ottawa to |
| city to be served by Frontier. The four | | | | Acapulco on Wednesdays and to Cancun on |
| weekly flights to Guadalajara, slated to | | | | Fridays. Earlier this year, Sunwing |
| begin Dec. 22, are part of Denver-based | | | | started service between Toronto and |
| Frontier's plans to increase its Mexican | | | | Cozumel and the airline will operate a |
| service by 30 percent during the peak | | | | Sudbury and Cancun route for the winter |
| winter holiday season; Frontier will add | | | | season from December through March 2007. |
| flight frequencies from Denver to | | | | For the winter season, Sunquest Airlines |
| Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San | | | | will also begin services from Hamilton |
| Lucas. Frontier announced that it will | | | | to Cancun and Riviera Maya starting in |
| begin new, non-stop service between San | | | | December. |
| Diego and Cancun with one flight weekly | | | | Mexican airlines also expand services |
| starting Dec. 16. | | | | The increased number of expanded routes, |
| Adding three new Mexico routes this | | | | however, has not been limited to |
| year, United Airlines' most recent | | | | international services. Mexican |
| launch was in July connecting Chicago | | | | airlines, particularly the low-cost |
| and Cancun. The carrier had initiated | | | | carriers, are also boosting services. |
| its Los Angeles-Cancun and | | | | Private and semi-private airlines such |
| Chicago's-Puerto Vallarta routes in | | | | as Avolar, ABC Interjet and Volaris, as |
| March. Together, United serves 16 routes | | | | well as Mexicana Airline's carrier Click |
| between the United States and Mexico | | | | Mexicana have launched low-cost flights |
| excluding two seasonal routes, | | | | to different parts of Mexico. Aladia, |
| Denver-Mexico City and Denver-Ixtapa, | | | | one of Mexico's newest airlines, is |
| which run during the winter months. The | | | | slated to launch this summer. |
| new flights to Mexico are offered via | | | | Mexico's domestic service currently |
| the United and the airline's low-cost | | | | caters to approximately 2.5 million |
| counterpart, Ted. | | | | passengers, representing some 6.5 |
| Seasonal flight services to be added | | | | percent of Mexican tourists who travel |
| during the winter months will include | | | | via air within the country. |
| American Airlines' announced plans to | | | | Flying beyond Mexico borders, Mexican |
| start one round-trip, non-stop service | | | | airlines Aeromexico and Mexicana operate |
| weekly from JFK to Mexico's San Jose del | | | | daily routes between JFK airport and |
| Cabo in the Baja California region, | | | | Mexico City. Mexicana will also operate |
| effective Dec. 16 through April 9, 2007. | | | | a route between Baltimore, Maryland and |
| The legacy airline, which has been | | | | its low-fare carrier Click Mexicana will |
| operating flights to the Mexico market | | | | launch a Cancun-Miami flight later this |
| since 1941, currently serves San Jose | | | | summer. Avolar also plans to serve a |
| del Cabo with three flights daily from | | | | select few of U.S. cities later this |
| Dallas/Fort Worth, two daily from Los | | | | year. Within Mexico, Aeromexico is |
| Angeles, and three weekly flights from | | | | increasing flight offerings with new |
| Chicago. | | | | routes between Mexico City and |
| Other flight additions to existing | | | | Villahermosa, Merida and Cancun. |
| routes include service by Alaska | | | | |