New nonstop flight between Puerto Vallarta and Phoenix highlights AZ-Mex relationship

Summertime means a few things for people in Arizona: excessive heat, pumping A/C, and getting out of the heat for a vacation. Now, Arizonans looking to vacation south of the border now have a new way to get there with the newly announced direct flight between Puerto Vallarta and Phoenix offered up by Mexican airline Volaris. 

The low-cost airline, which operates in 66 destinations currently, is taking advantage of a growing relationship in travel and tourism between Arizona and Mexico, especially with the growing amount of travelers from Mexico coming into places like Phoenix, Tucson, and the Grand Canyon.

Nearly four million Mexican-based tourists choose Arizona as a travel destination on an annual basis, which represents the largest amount of international tourism to Arizona.

“Tourism from Mexico accounts for the majority of all expenditures in Arizona by international visitors to the state and have an annual economic impact of $2.5 billion,” María del Rocío Rodríguez Echeverría, Consul for Cultural and Academic Affairs for Mexico said. “They support approximately 30,000 jobs throughout Arizona.” 

In Puerto Vallarta, the new Mexican destination for Arizona jet setters, nearly half of the workforce is employed in some form by travel and tourism, including hotels, restaurants, and transportation used by American tourists.

Sky Harbor has expanded its travel destinations for passengers, especially for nonstop options, in recent months. 

“There has been excellent service to Puerto Vallarta from Phoenix and this adds even more options for people looking to go there,” Greg Roybal Public Information Officer for Sky Harbor International Airport said. “Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council are strong supporters of our efforts in Mexico and we will continue to work closely with our airline and airport partners to obtain more service,”

Recently, American Airlines announced another nonstop flight for Arizonans looking to head to Mexico with its flights between Phoenix and Chihuahua starting in December. American Airlines is the largest carrier in the Mexico trans-border market when it comes to departures and seats, and this new destination marks the 10th location in Mexico from Phoenix.