Good News: U.S.-Mexico Air Travel Opens Up

Dec 05, 2016

MexicoFlights_FEATURE2 — Between Interjet and Southwest, there will be a new crop of flights traveling directly from California to Riviera Nayarit. // © 2016 iStock

This month ushers in new opportunities for air travel between the U.S. and Mexico. A prior restriction limited a few airlines from each country to a particular route; now, air carriers are able to determine the price, frequency and course of their routes between the two countries.

As a result, travelers can expect more flight options and possibly lower prices, particularly from the Los Angeles area. Several major airlines have announced new flights: As of Dec. 4, Southwest Airlines is offering twice-daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to SJD Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Cancun International Airport (CUN), as well as once-daily flights to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), all for as low as $129 one way.

Also available are Delta Air Lines’ daily nonstop flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to CUN, and from LAX to SJD. On Nov. 6, American Airlines launched daily routes between Miami International Airport and Merida International Airport (MID), in addition to its flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to MID, which began in March.

Gabriela van der Lee, director of sales and marketing for Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, says that she expects to see more guests traveling to Los Cabos from July to December.

“Hilton Los Cabos will plan to accommodate the increase by offering great packages to help diversify the experiences available to guests,” van der Lee said. “From our luxury leisure options, such as the eforea spa and La Vista Club Lounge, to our Cabo Kids Club available to families, we will continue to have programming that fits each traveler’s need.”

A new crop of flights from Los Angeles to the Riviera Nayarit region has been announced by several airlines. Among them is Interjet, which is adding four routes between LAX and PVR, as well as Southwest, whose nonstop flights on the same route are now open for reservations. Southwest’s first flight to PVR was from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., a route Alaska Airlines has now added.

Additionally, Southwest recently announced plans to commence new daily nonstop service to SJD and PVR from Oakland International Airport in February, adding to its Bay Area service out of San Francisco International Airport.

According to Richard Zarkin, public relations manager for the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau, the open air agreement has allowed airlines from both countries to add frequencies out of important markets and less saturated airports.

“California is one of the main U.S. markets that travel to Riviera Nayarit. These new flight options are making it easier to reach Mexico’s Pacific Coast and increasing our visitor numbers,” Zarkin said.

Zarkin adds that the best time to visit Riviera Nayarit is from winter to spring, although Californians tend to visit year-round.

“From mid-December to mid-March, travelers can enjoy humpback whales playing in the Banderas Bay,” Zarkin said. “Or, they can watch baby sea turtles being released from the summer to early autumn.”