Alaska Airlines is expanding its network with a relaunch of service to Mexico City (MEX) beginning Aug. 8. The carrier originally began flying to the Mexican capital in 2005 but suspended the route in 2015. This restart represents a return to an important market for the airline.
Alaska secured tentative approval for the new schedule after the U.S. Department of Transportation released 24 slot pairs into Mexico City as part of the conditions tied to the partnership between Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico. That allocation created an opportunity for additional U.S. carriers to increase service into the busy airport.
Last month the DOT approved Alaska’s proposed schedule, which calls for two daily roundtrips from Los Angeles (LAX), plus one daily flight from San Francisco (SFO) and one daily flight from San Diego (SAN). Final authorization from Mexican authorities is still pending but is expected in the near term.
“We thank the U.S. DOT for its efforts to increase competition in highly desirable markets like Mexico City,” said John Kirby, vice president of capacity planning for Alaska Airlines. “With our new service to Mexico City, we continue to grow our footprint in California by offering our valued guests nonstop flights to nine popular destinations throughout Mexico, more than any other U.S. carrier from California.”
The reinstated routes will strengthen Alaska’s presence on the West Coast and provide travelers with more nonstop options to Mexico City. By adding multiple daily frequencies from Los Angeles and single daily flights from San Francisco and San Diego, the airline aims to serve both leisure and business travelers with convenient schedules and enhanced connectivity to its broader network.
Pending final approvals, the relaunch will offer passengers additional competitive choices for travel between California and Mexico’s capital, reinforcing Alaska’s strategy to expand international service from its California gateways while increasing market competition and consumer options.