WestJet announces new route to Mexico City
First direct flights to Mexican capital to begin this spring
Calgarians will soon have a new destination to fly to in Mexico without having to make any stops, starting this spring.
WestJet just announced a direct route between Calgary and Mexico City, starting in May 2025.
As well as being a new option for Calgarians to enjoy Mexico's vibrant culture and history, the route is being welcomed by the provincial government and Tourism Calgary as a way to bring Mexican tourists and visitors to Alberta.
"We love the inbound aspect of this new route. Alberta and Calgary are fly-to destinations and we're delighted that this route will open up a gateway for arts and culture and all sorts of exploration," said Alisha Reynolds, president and CEO of Tourism Calgary.
Reynolds says the route will also help Calgary's push to become a centre for international conventions.
"Our goal is to become Canada's leading convention destination. With the expanded BMO Convention Centre and the Telus Convention Centre, we're a hot spot for meetings, and it takes international travellers to pull that off," she said.
Reynolds says the new flight also taps into the trend of people from warm places seeking out cold weather vacations, called "co-locations."
"We think there's going to be strong visitation from Mexico," she said.
Daniel Fajardo, vice-president of network schedule planning at WestJet, says adding any new route involves significant analysis and process.
"We look at demand, competitive service and we look at our ability to service the market in a profitable way that will bring the most benefit to the community," said Fajardo.
Flights from Calgary to Mexico City via other airlines, including Air Canada and United, have to connect in places like Vancouver, Toronto, Dallas and Houston.
The new route means WestJet now flies to 13 cities in Mexico, including via its Sunwing flights.