Southwest Airlines to Offer Mexico Service Via Agreement With Mexican Carrier Volaris; Service Scheduled for 2010

Southwest Airlines today announced its intention to build a codeshare partnership with Mexican carrier Volaris. The two airlines have completed the first step in creating a relationship that will eventually allow the carriers to offer Customers a seamless travel experience to a wide array of destinations. This initial agreement puts the two airlines on a path toward bringing more low fares and a better Customer experience across the U.S./Mexican border. The airlines plan to announce codeshare flight schedules and additional features regarding the partnership by early 2010. Certain details of the codeshare and elements of the partnership are subject to approvals by both the U.S. and Mexican governments. To view a blog post on the announcement, visit: www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/viva-mexico.

“We are continuing to look for ways to expand our network through international codeshare partnerships, and we are excited to team up with Volaris to offer our Customers access to attractive Mexican destinations,” said Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President Strategy and Planning Bob Jordan. “Volaris has a stellar reputation for being a highly efficient airline with a dedication to Customer Service, which makes it a natural fit for Southwest Airlines.”

Volaris was founded in 2006 and currently serves 39 routes in 23 cities throughout Mexico. Volaris is known for competitive pricing and an end-to-end operations model that has earned the airline the reputation for being Mexico’s most ontime carrier. Volaris operates a modern fleet of 18 Airbus A319 and an A320 aircraft with an average age of 2.17 years.

“Our international expansion will happen with the best possible partner for a carrier of our characteristics — that is Southwest Airlines. We are certain that the codeshare will allow business, leisure, and visiting friends and family traffic to increase on both sides of the border,” said Volaris Chief Executive Officer Enrique Beltranena.

The airlines are not ready to announce routes, schedules, or fares at this point, but the agreement will eventually allow each carrier to check both Customers and baggage to a passenger’s final destination. The codeshare partnership is intended to provide convenient, viable connecting schedules. In addition, southwest.com will become a distribution channel for Volaris’ existing Mexican and future transborder flights in the Spring of 2009, providing Customers the opportunity to purchase flights on Volaris’ existing flights via southwest.com (this option will be available for existing Volaris flights before actual connecting codeshare flights are available for purchase). Other areas of possible cooperation include frequent flier options, ground handling, and cargo.

“We recently announced our decision to enter the international market with Canadian carrier WestJet, and we will continue to work diligently to broaden our international codeshare service even further,” Jordan said. “

Leave a Reply