Southwest is continuing its push to add more Mexcian flying to its route network as its AirTran subsidiary has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for the authority to to Cancun from Austin and Denver using AirTran 737-700 aircraft. The filing comes after Southwest last year announced plans to launch service from San Antonio to Cancun and Mexico City, and from Orange County to Cabo and Mexico City. The carrier is also competing with Frontier Airlines for the authority to fly between Chicago and Cancun.
The airline said in its application that its frequency of service in the Austin- Cancun market will vary from four times per week to daily with a proposed start date of May 25. The proposed Denver-Cancun service would be slated to launch around April 16, with daily service during the December-to-June high season, and would fly several times a week during the off- peak period. The company noted for both markets, however, that the exact schedule depends on demand and market conditions.
The bilateral agreement between the US and Mexico limits the number of carriers that can operate on Mexican routes (in many cases the number of US carriers is capped at three), but the airline notes in its filing that designations are available. One designation is available for Denver-Cancun service, as only United and Frontier currently have the authority to fly between the two cities.
Sun Country and Continental have the authority to fly between Austin and Cancun. Delta has flown on the route in the past, but notified the DOT last month that it had ceased service and had no objection to the withdrawal of its own-metal designation on these routes.
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