Interjet begins flights between Mexico and Las Vegas

Interjet became the fourth Mexican airline to fly to McCarran International when its inaugural flight from hit the gate on Thursday night.

The carrier will fly to Toluca Airport in Mexico City with 150-seat Airbus A320s on Thursdays and Sundays, the two favorite days for foreign airlines in Las Vegas. President Miguel Aleman said Interjet typically takes three months to evaluate a route before deciding whether or not to add service.

Although most foreign carriers have found it difficult to sell tickets to Las Vegas residents, Aleman said Interjet expects an unusually high 30 percent of its passenger to be locals. The valley has an large Hispanic population, but as an introductory incentive the airline will give locals who buy a ticket to Mexico City a connecting flight to Acapulco for free.

When it started in 2005, Interjet focused on flying within Mexico at lower fares than previously, plus destinations in Central America and the Caribbean. In the past year, Interjet started going north of the border, now with five routes. Contact reporter Tim O'Reiley at
toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.