Low-cost Mexican airline Volaris on Monday announced expansion into Costa Rica with the launch of two weekly flights from Cancún and Guadalajara beginning Sept. 10.
Volaris’ CEO in Costa Rica, Fernando Naranjo, confirmed that flights from both destinations will depart Thursdays and Sundays.
“These two new routes allow us to extend our destination offerings in Mexico and also open new options to the U.S. through Guadalajara and Cancún, two top destinations for visitors from those two countries,” Naranjo said.
Costa Rican Tourism Minister Mauricio Ventura Aragón noted that Mexico is Latin America’s top issuing market for tourists traveling by air.
“Volaris’ operation will add to our efforts to attract more airlines, open new markets and increase the number of flights to our destinations,” he said.
Flights from Guadalajara will depart at 7:20 a.m. and will arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport outside San José at 9:55 a.m. From Costa Rica, flights will leave at 7:05 p.m. and will arrive in Guadalajara at 11:30 p.m.
Departures from Cancún are at 11:25 a.m. and will arrive in Costa Rica at 2:40 p.m., while flights from the Caribbean port will depart at 4:15 p.m. and will arrive in Costa Rica at 5:35 p.m.
Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranena said the new routes to Costa Rica are part of an expansion plan that seeks to offer the best connectivity from Costa Rica to the major cities in Mexico and the U.S. West Coast.
The two Mexican destinations will allow travelers in Costa Rica to connect with other Volaris destinations such as Orlando, Chicago, San Francisco (Oakland), Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Mexico City, Monterrey, Mexicali, Los Cabos, Tijuana and La Paz, he said.
Volaris’ partnership with German carrier Condor Airlines also will facilitate connections with European destinations from Costa Rica.