Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Airlines are responding to increasing U.S. and Canadian demand for seasonal service to Mexico by widening service options to the country's many fascinating destinations.

Over the past few months, a mix of major airlines and low-cost carriers in the United States and Canada have enhanced service schedules through additional frequencies of existing routes and the launch of new services to popular vacation destinations like Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

WestJet Announces Increased Frequency on Select Mexico Routes

WestJet on Monday announced an increase in frequency on three existing international routes. Service between Calgary and Loreto, Mexico increases from weekly to twice-weekly service. Flights between Toronto and Puerto Vallarta increase from weekly to three times weekly and service between Toronto and Puerto Plata doubles from twice-weekly service to four scheduled flights per week.

"Today's announcement represents a disciplined approach in balancing the needs of the travelling public with responsible growth," said Chris Avery, WestJet Vice-President, Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development. "Increased frequency on the routes announced today is in direct response to demand and provides us with an opportunity to further optimize our fleet. As always, we operate with an eye to ensuring value-based options and strong network capability for business and leisure travellers alike."

Southwest Airlines Launches Service to Puerto Vallarta & Cabo San Lucas

Southwest Airlines for the first time will operate a summer Saturday schedule of 104 scheduled flights among a dozen airports in the continental United States and ten cities across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

The carrier began service in its 95th city, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, via Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) on Sunday, June 7, with daily, nonstop service to/from Orange County/Santa Ana and connecting points across the US.

Southwest has also announced daily, nonstop service between PVR and both Denver and Houston Hobby. The Ministers of Tourism for both Mexican States of Jalisco and Nayarit are expected to welcome Southwest Airlines in its first month of serving Puerto Vallarta on June 18, the carrier's 44th birthday.

At Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) near San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, Southwest flight 394 touched down on Saturday, June 13 from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and was welcomed with a ceremonial water arch and a reception at the gate. The nonstop service to/from BWI and the international airport in Baja California Sur operates weekly on Saturdays, and is the carrier's fourth nonstop market to the Cabo San Lucas region.

"Our People have worked hard to bring Southwest's value and brand promise of great service, lower fares, bags fly free, and no change fees to destinations outside the contiguous states where it made sense for us to grow," said Bob Jordan, Southwest's Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President. "As an example, this new, weekly flight between BWI and Los Cabos gives our Customers the fastest route between the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. and the tip of the Baja peninsula."

That airlines are increasing flight options to Mexico demonstrates the high degree of confidence the travel industry has in our country, and the interest travelers have in discovering Mexico for themselves.