U.S. Airlines Accelerate Mexico Growth with New Routes from Chicago, Dallas, Houston as Florida Becomes Less Affordable

Written By: Sujal Dhar

Sujal Dhar

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July 11, 2025 9:52 PM

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American carriers are adding schedules to Mexican cities like Houston, Dallas, and Chicago as more Americans seek inexpensive substitutes for domestic holiday spots. With skyrocketing hotel costs and prices, carriers are looking south to warmer, inexpensive Mexican cities as Florida’s holiday appeal declines further. Growing bookings are prompting carriers to add new routes, build up seasonal services, and target previously unserved Mexican cities—redefining interborder flying as the winter holiday season approaches.

What used to be a local favorite, like Florida, now costs the average tourist more. Skyrocketing hotel costs and other rising expenses are causing Americans to consider alternative, lower-priced international options. Mexico, through virtue of how close it is, variety of holiday options, and relatively low-cost prices, is gaining new interest—especially as the winter months approach. U.S. airlines are taking mixed action: adding new routes, boosting seasonal schedules, and, in selected cases, cutting back weak-performing routes.

Houston to Tepic: new route opens up possibilities
A new direct route between Tepic, west of Mexico, and Houston, Texas, opens in December. Connecting visitors to the state of Nayarit, a place filled with local flair and seaside appeal, the route uses regional jets. It increases diversity to the list of Mexican cities now served from the U.S.

More Flights From Chicago and Dallas
It’s an unusual instance of a U.S. carrier assuming the initiative for Mexican service growth. From late October, daily service will commence between Mexico City and Chicago. In mid-December, a seasonal route will launch between Querétaro and Chicago, coinciding with the holiday travel season.

Also, the carrier is increasing coverage to tourist areas. From Chicago, it will have:

Three daily flights to Cancun

Two daily San José del Cabo flights

Two daily flights to Puerto Vallarta during the peak holiday travel periods

These new services are set to contribute 15 weekly Chicago departures to Mexico this December, with seat capacity rising by more than 65% compared to the same period last year.

At the same time, a new year-round Dallas-Puerto Escondido route begins in early December, extending the carrier’s Mexican footprint to 30 cities—more than any other U.S.-based airline.

growth via other major carriers
Another significant U.S. carrier is similarly increasing Mexican service, though much more slowly. During the month of December, it is adding 26 weekly services, though total available seats will increase by fewer than 1% versus months earlier. New and resumption services are:

Chicago to Cozumel

Houston to Puerto Escondido

Denver to Mexico City

In addition, the carrier is increasing Houston daily frequencies to several major Mexican cities, including León, Guadalajara, Tampico, and Monterrey. Further links are at the same time being introduced from Newark and Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta and San José del Cabo.

Alaska Airlines Scales and Refines

Alaska Airlines responds to winter surge with added service to several Mexican cities. Alaska Airlines boosts schedule by 18 weekly flights during the month of December. Among the highlights:

By Daily flights to/from Albuquerque, NM
Trans World Airlines,

More frequencies San Diego – Puerto Vallarta and San José del Cabo

Additional Las Vegas and Los Angeles links to Loreto and San José del Cabo

But the carrier reduces service too on unprofitable routes. San Francisco-Mazatlán and Fresno-Guadalajara routes are going to be taken out of the winter schedule.

Southwest and others selectively make changes.

Southwest Airlines will implement a balanced strategy. It will enhance flight frequency between:

Nashville and Cancun

Sacramento and San José del Cabo

San Diego and San José del Cabo

However, four routes are going to be eliminated, like San Antonio, Chicago, Oakland, and Austin to major Mexican cities.

It’s pulling back by cancelling Denver and Cincinnati service to several Mexican beach cities. And service reductions are planned from Cancun to Philadelphia.

JetBlue cuts Cancun flights out of Boston, New York, and San Juan, and barely boosting Fort Lauderdale service.

Sun Country Airlines will remove the route Minneapolis to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo entirely.

One major carrier reduces winter schedule On all U.S. carriers, the largest schedule cutting occurs as a major carrier cuts 31 December flights to Mexico. Among the largest cuts is the route between Mexico City and Los Angeles, which won’t reemerge until spring 2026. That decision mirrors broader trends to cut back in areas of lower consistency, both Canada and Mexico. Final Perspective: Diverging Strategy As Mexico Is a Top Priority Mexico continues to offer American visitors a healthy mix of affordability and accessibility, seasonally strong during the winter months. While a select group of carriers are going all-out with new routes and incremental seats, others are streamlining schedules based upon profitability and requirements. As the economic environment remains uncertain, carriers are defining their international profiles—and Mexico plays a prominent role to their strategy, by expansion or planned exit.