Newlink is the Mexico Tourism Board’s New Agency for Public
Relations in the United States
MEXICANA
BECOMES THE FIRST MEXICAN AIRLINE TO FLY INTO THE DC AREA, BRINGING Cancun
closer to Washington, D.C.
Mexican Airlines is now the only Mexican airline
flying into the Dulles airport, launching direct flights between Washington,
D.C. and Cancun
Washington, D.C. December 15, 2009. -Mexico’s
Ambassador in the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan, along with officials from the Mexico
Tourism Board, Mexicana Airlines and other
travel industry leaders joined together today to celebrate the airline’s
launch of seven new weekly, non-stop flights between Washington,
D.C. and Cancun and continuing to Mexico City.
During a special event held at the Mexican Cultural Institute in D.C.,
Ambassador Sarukhan joined Mexicana Airlines Senior Vice President Customer
Service and Corporate Communications, Adolfo Crespo, for the official
announcement of this new route. The first flight departed yesterday from Cancun at 6:20 pm and will be returning today from Dulles
International Airport (IAD) at 9:35 am.
“This new non-stop route is a culmination of successful efforts joined
together by all parties to increase business relationships among Mexico and the
U.S. Cancun is among the most favored destinations for Americans and this new
route adds ease and convenience to one of Mexico’s most beautiful places
to visit” said Ambassador Sarukhan.
The launch of this new flight in Washington,
D.C., is part of Grupo Mexicana’s
strategic expansion which last November, joined oneworld Alliance, the
world’s leading quality airline alliances. The inauguration of this new
service will bring the number of domestic and international routes operated out
of Cancun up to a total of 15, elevating this
terminal to the category of hub. “This is the result of yet another
initiative by Mexicana to offer our customers the best travel options and will
enable us to post substantial growth in the number of passengers we fly in and
out of the Cancun airport. This route is
designed to offer users important benefits, while furthering our
internationalization strategy” said Adolfo Crespo Mexicana Airlines
Senior Vice President Customer Service and Corporate Communications.
As the first Mexican airline to operate out of the
Dulles airport, Mexicana has solid reasons for choosing this terminal, namely
industry data that points to a 12%-plus increase in passenger volumes between Washington, D. C. and Cancun since 2005, with at least
60% of passengers flying from WashingtonD.C. to destinations in Mexico preferring Dulles. Business
passengers flying in from Washington will also
find that these new flights are conveniently scheduled to coincide with
connections to Mexico City, allowing them to
make the most of their time in Mexico.
In 2008, Cancun’s InternationalAirport received 41% of the Americans
that traveled to Mexico
by plane. Because of its strength in numbers, a total amount of $67 million
dollars has been invested this year to add an additional runway, an entirely
new control tower and taxiway bridge. The airport’s capacity will
increase to such an extent that it will eventually be fit to welcome about 28
million passengers per year.
During 2010, Mexicana Airlines together with the
Mexico Tourism Board and the State of Quintana Roo
will carry out varied promotional programs to help kick start travel to Mexico from Washington, D.C.
targeting industry partners within the leisure and meetings segment.
About Mexico
Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources
of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to
promote Mexico’s
tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the
MTB is Mexico’s
tourism promotion agency, and its participants include
members of both the private and
public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout
North America, Europe, Japan and Latin America. For more information on
destinations and online trip bookings please go towww.visitmexico.com.
FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a
story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico,
please contact the MTB’s U.S. Press Room
directly at
1-800-929-4555, by
e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com
or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com
Mexicana
Airlines, Mexico’s
leading airline, has been earning the trust and loyalty of its passengers for
almost 90 years, preserving the best of its essence, while positioning itself
as a dynamic, efficient company. This successful marriage of tradition and
innovation is one reason Mexicana Airlines was invited to join oneworld®,
the world’s leading alliance of quality airlines, which enables its
member airlines to offer their customers more services and benefits than any
airline can provide on its own, including a broader route network, more
opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points and access to
some 550 airport lounges worldwide.
oneworld®,
also offers more alliance fares than any of its competitors. In 2008, Mexicana
boarded over 11.7 million passengers and currently serves some 50 destinations
in Mexico, Central America,
South America, the Caribbean and Europe. Its
64-strong fleet of hi-tech aircraft makes 200 takeoffs and landings a day on
average. The company boasts the best maintenance base in all of Latin America, staffed by highly skilled mechanics. In
addition to being certified as a Socially Responsible Company, Mexicana has won
several major industry awards over the decades, including the World Travel
Award for “Leading Airline in Mexico
and Central America”, which it has taken
home on no less than 11 occasions. MexicanaClick was launched in 2005 to serve
the domestic market and currently operates a total of 29 routes. MexicanaLink,
the group’s regional carrier, made its debut in 2009 and already flies to
20 destinations. MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink will both be joining oneworld®,
as affiliates. www.mexicana.com
