The new Saturday and Sunday service to and from Puerto Vallarta will start March 10, 2018. The carrier previously began local nonstop service between San Diego and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. “The international service we are providing has really resonated with our customers, and Cabo was the most popular destination our customers requested, and Puerto Vallarta was next,” said Leah Koontz, Vice President Controller for the airline. “San Diego is our fourth international gateway out of California.” The only other air carrier flying nonstop between San Diego and Puerto Vallarta is Alaska Airlines.
The San Diego flights were among nearly 20 new nonstop routes and increased frequency to 27 existing routes that Southwest announced Monday. It also is planning to add more service to Cancun and Cabo San Lucas from the U.S. While acknowledging the heightened competition for air travel, Southwest executives believe California is just as competitive as it always has been, even as Alaska Airlines has moved aggressively to gain a stronger advantage in San Diego.
