Virgin America Adds Service from S.F. to Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Virgin America Adds Service from S.F. to Mexico’s Pacific Coast
By Kate Rice

Virgin America has added two more Mexican destinations with five nonstop flights a week from the airline’s home base of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). This means its passengers can fly in to Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit. This is Virgin America’s 15th market.

Mexico suffered a loss of airlift in August 2010 when Mexicana when bankrupt and then ceased flying. Other carriers, both network and low-cost airlines, have filled some of the gap since. For example, AirTran Airways, now owned by Southwest Airlines, which flies only domestic routes, increased its service to Mexico this summer, and Southwest is expected to increase AirTran’s service to Mexico next summer.

Southwest does offer service to Mexico via its International Connect program, a partnership with Mexican carrier Volaris. Many industry observers have been waiting to see if Southwest would add international service.

Last year, Southwest converted its order for 737-700s to an order for 737-800s; its CEO Gary Kelly that they would be “ETOPS enabled,” which means they could fly long distance over water to Hawaii.