Austin Airport Launches New Non-Stop Service To Guadalajara, Mexico

AUSTIN, TX -- Volaris airlines inaugurated local flight service on Sunday by launching nonstop service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Guadalajara, Mexico.

Volaris is a low-cost airline based in Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City with its main base at Tijuana International Airport in Tijuana. The new non-stop service links the Austin airport with Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International airport.

A water cannon salute was undertaken in inaugural ceremonies launching the new service. Departing passengers at the gate enjoyed cake and a live musical performance by the Gabriel Santiago Project during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"We are extremely excited to open this new route which will connect two of the most important cities of both countries," Juliana Ramirez, the airline's ancillaries manager, said in a prepared statement. "This flight will open the doors to many tourists, family and friends who want to travel with low fares and a personalized flight experience."

Flights operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on a 179-seat, A-320 aircraft, airport officials said. Departures are scheduled for 1:20 p.m. in Austin, arriving in Guadalajara at 3:28 p.m.Return flights will depart GDL at 9:33 a.m., arriving at AUS at 11:50 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.volaris.com or by calling 1-866-988-3527 or 01-800-122-8000 in Mexico.

In a prepared statement, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said the new service between the two cities strikes the right note: “This announcement that Volaris will provide nonstop service from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico to Austin is good news," Adler said. "The home of mariachi is now connected to the Live Music Capital of the World.”

Other speakers joining Adler at the ceremony included Drew Scheberle of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and Lourdes Gomez of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Consul General of Mexico in Austin, Carlos González Gutiérrez, also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The new flight will connect two of the most vibrant start-up scenes and technology hubs in North America,” González said.

Some 11.9 million passengers passed through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year, officials said. For more information on Volaris, visit www.volaris.com.

Austin airport officials also touted local service to Frankfurt, Germany on Condor Airlines, www.condor.com. For all nonstop routes, officials offer a free interactive flight guide on www.abia.org. The airport also has a social media presence on Twitter, @AUStinAirport, and Facebook, www.facebook.com/abia.

>>> Photo courtesy of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: Lourdes Gomez, Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau; Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Consul General of Mexico in Austin; Juliana Ramirez, Volaris Ancillary Revenue Manager; Mayor Steve Adler, City of Austin; and Drew Scheberle of the Austin Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon at the gate to board the Austin to Guadalajara flight.