Southwest Airlines on Aug. 18, announced new international service between Los Angeles (LAX) and three airports in Mexico's coastal resort regions: Cancun (CUN), San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos (SJD), and Puerto Vallarta (PVR). The service is scheduled to begin Dec. 4, subject to approvals of the Mexican government. In celebration of the new flights, Southwest is offering special fares.
"Southwest's approval from the DOT to operate these new routes made history as the first authorities granted in a new agreement between the U.S. and Mexico to allow more service between the countries," said Paul Cullen, Vice President and Executive Sponsor of Los Angeles for Southwest Airlines. "We are able to do what we have done for decades in California and in cities across the country: enter a nonstop market, bring low fares with unmatched value, and connect people in a more affordable way with places that are important in their lives."
Cullen discussed the new flights with the carrier's LA Basin Customers and Employees at a Viva Mexico! party taking place today at a Southwest Beachfront Porch set-up in Santa Monica Place near the Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica Pier. Traditional Mexican dancers commemorated news of the first Mexico service from LAX by Southwest, the largest carrier of air passengers to, from, and within the Golden State, based on the most recent data provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Southwest serves ten major commercial airports in the state, five of which are in the LA Basin.
"Los Angeles and Mexico share an unbreakable bond, and today our cultural and commercial connections become even stronger," said Mayor Eric Garcetti. "These new Southwest flights from LAX to Mexico will expand L.A.'s global reach, bring Angelenos closer to the people they love, and help our city's economy continue to grow."
Late last month, the carrier received U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval to fly between Oakland International Airport and both Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. Also subject to Mexican governmental approval, this new service in Northern California would begin on Feb. 12, 2017.
Southwest already flies daily between LAX and Liberia/Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and the five new daily flights to and from Mexico will be flown in addition to the carrier's international service offered at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. The carrier continues to plan for available seat mile (ASM) growth in the 5-6 percent range in 2016.
