| Expanded schedules and launch of new routes | | | | list of services to Mexico resort cities this fall with |
| mark response to rising demand for service to | | | | six more weekly flights from Los Angeles and |
| Mexico destinations | | | | San Francisco, thus increasing its Mexico capacity |
| Airlines are responding to increasing U.S. and | | | | by 22 percent. The carrier also plans to inaugurate |
| Canadian demand for service to Mexico by | | | | non-stop services between Los Angeles and La |
| widening service options to the country's many | | | | Paz, San Francisco and Cancún, and Seattle |
| destinations. With greater air access, the airlines | | | | and Cancún, as well as between Portland, |
| contribute to boosting international tourist arrivals. | | | | Oregon to both Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. |
| During the past six months, a mix of major | | | | Northwest Airlines' announcement of additional |
| airlines and low-cost carriers in the United States | | | | weekday frequencies during the winter travel |
| and Canada have enhanced service schedules to | | | | season between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Mexico |
| different parts of Mexico through additional | | | | cities Acapulco, Manzanillo and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. |
| frequencies of existing routes and the launch of | | | | The airline, subject to government approval, will |
| new services. | | | | also include service from Detroit to Ixtapa |
| "That airlines across the board are increasing flight | | | | Zihuatanejo that will operate from Jan. 20 through |
| options to Mexico demonstrates the high degree | | | | March 31, 2007, as well as a new service |
| of confidence the travel industry has in our | | | | between Memphis and Cozumel to operate on |
| country, and the interest travelers have in | | | | Saturdays from Feb. 17 through April 14, 2007. |
| discovering Mexico for themselves. Mexicans are | | | | Although Continental Airlines has not added new |
| known around the world for their warmth and | | | | services in recent months, the airline is a strong |
| hospitality, and North American travelers will be | | | | player in the market currently operating more |
| welcomed with open arms," said Magdalena Carral, | | | | than 580 flights weekly to 30 Mexican destinations |
| CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. | | | | from Texas airports in Laredo, McCallen and |
| Expansion of air transportation inbound to Mexico | | | | Houston, as well as from Newark's Liberty |
| is aligned with the goal of the Mexican | | | | International Airport and Los Angeles. Continental |
| government's comprehensive, long-term tourism | | | | did however, announce with Alitalia codeshare |
| plan to increase the number of international | | | | expansion already in place to provide improved |
| visitors. With 21.9 million visitors in 2005, the | | | | transfer services between Italy, Canada and |
| country is ranked seventh as an international | | | | Mexico. |
| tourism destination according to World Tourism | | | | Canadian airlines are also hovering over Mexico |
| Organization figures released in June. | | | | skies. Air Canada will add 25 more non-stop flights |
| Among the airlines increasing flights is Delta Air | | | | per week this winter between Canada and Mexico |
| Lines. In recent months, the Atlanta-based carrier | | | | for a total of 61 weekly. The new routes to |
| initiated new non-stop service to Mexico | | | | Mexico include service between Toronto to |
| destinations such as Acapulco, Merida, and Ixtapa | | | | Cozumel and Ixtapa, slated to begin |
| from Atlanta; Mazatlan from Salt Lake City; and | | | | mid-December, as well as a Montreal-Mexico City |
| Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco from New York's | | | | service introduced on June 17. |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport. | | | | Sunwing Airlines' announced plans to begin this fall |
| Frontier Airlines another carrier on the forefront | | | | to operate one flight each between Montreal and |
| to expand service to Mexico, has announced plans | | | | Ottawa to Acapulco on Wednesdays and to |
| to launch round-trip service between Denver and | | | | Cancun on Fridays. Earlier this year, Sunwing |
| Guadalajara. The service will mark the eighth | | | | started service between Toronto and Cozumel |
| Mexican city to be served by Frontier. The four | | | | and the airline will operate a Sudbury and Cancun |
| weekly flights to Guadalajara, slated to begin Dec. | | | | route for the winter season from December |
| 22, are part of Denver-based Frontier's plans to | | | | through March 2007. |
| increase its Mexican service by 30 percent during | | | | For the winter season, Sunquest Airlines will also |
| the peak winter holiday season; Frontier will add | | | | begin services from Hamilton to Cancun and |
| flight frequencies from Denver to Cancun, Puerto | | | | Riviera Maya starting in December. |
| Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Frontier announced | | | | Mexican airlines also expand services |
| that it will begin new, non-stop service between | | | | The increased number of expanded routes, |
| San Diego and Cancun with one flight weekly | | | | however, has not been limited to international |
| starting Dec. 16. | | | | services. Mexican airlines, particularly the low-cost |
| Adding three new Mexico routes this year, United | | | | carriers, are also boosting services. Private and |
| Airlines' most recent launch was in July connecting | | | | semi-private airlines such as Avolar, ABC Interjet |
| Chicago and Cancun. The carrier had initiated its | | | | and Volaris, as well as Mexicana Airline's carrier |
| Los Angeles-Cancun and Chicago's-Puerto Vallarta | | | | Click Mexicana have launched low-cost flights to |
| routes in March. Together, United serves 16 | | | | different parts of Mexico. Aladia, one of Mexico's |
| routes between the United States and Mexico | | | | newest airlines, is slated to launch this summer. |
| excluding two seasonal routes, Denver-Mexico | | | | Mexico's domestic service currently caters to |
| City and Denver-Ixtapa, which run during the | | | | approximately 2.5 million passengers, representing |
| winter months. The new flights to Mexico are | | | | some 6.5 percent of Mexican tourists who travel |
| offered via the United and the airline's low-cost | | | | via air within the country. |
| counterpart, Ted. | | | | Flying beyond Mexico borders, Mexican airlines |
| Seasonal flight services to be added during the | | | | Aeromexico and Mexicana operate daily routes |
| winter months will include American Airlines' | | | | between JFK airport and Mexico City. Mexicana will |
| announced plans to start one round-trip, non-stop | | | | also operate a route between Baltimore, Maryland |
| service weekly from JFK to Mexico's San Jose del | | | | and its low-fare carrier Click Mexicana will launch a |
| Cabo in the Baja California region, effective Dec. | | | | Cancun-Miami flight later this summer. Avolar also |
| 16 through April 9, 2007. The legacy airline, which | | | | plans to serve a select few of U.S. cities later this |
| has been operating flights to the Mexico market | | | | year. Within Mexico, Aeromexico is increasing flight |
| since 1941, currently serves San Jose del Cabo | | | | offerings with new routes between Mexico City |
| with three flights daily from Dallas/Fort Worth, | | | | and Villahermosa, Merida and Cancun. |
| two daily from Los Angeles, and three weekly | | | | # # # |
| flights from Chicago. | | | | Erick Laseca |
| Other flight additions to existing routes include | | | | Mexico Tourism Board |
| service by Alaska Airlines, which will lengthen its | | | | 312-228-0517 x14erick. |