SEATTLE – Thursday is one of the busiest travel days at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and things got even busier as Volaris Airlines made its first appearance at the airport Thursday night. In welcoming Volaris, Sea-Tac adds a new nonstop international destination of Guadalajara, Mexico, the country’s second largest city.
Live music and Mexican-themed snacks treated travelers before boarding the inaugural Volaris flight to Guadalajara on an Airbus A-320. The celebration and ribbon cutting featured remarks from Seattle’s Consul of Mexico, the President of the U.S. – Mexico Chamber of Cmmerce and the Director of International Relations for the Washington Governor’s office.
“Welcoming Volaris Airlines fits in very well with our Century Agenda mission which creates jobs by advancing trade and commerce,” said Port of Seattle CEO, Ted Fick. “This nonstop service to Mexico’s second largest city will have a dramatic benefit to both business and leisure travelers throughout the Pacific Northwest, as we have seen a tremendous increase in the Latino population across our region. We’re proud to be connecting Sea-Tac to the world through people, products and culture.”
First flight of Volaris Airlines into Sea-Tac
“We are very happy to continue to grow the number of our destinations in the U.S. and the connectivity between Mexico and the United States with one of the youngest fleets in the Americas and with some of the lowest fares in the market," said Volaris Chief Commercial Officer Holger Blankenstein.
Volaris considers itself an “ultra low cost” provider and is proud to always be seeking ways to shorten distances between friends and families. The airline’s Guadalajara hub offers connections to cities across Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
Guadalajara joins Munich, Germany and Shenzhen, China as the third new nonstop international destination to be announced at Sea-Tac this year and the airport’s 22nd nonstop international destination. In the past 10 years, Sea-Tac has added 15 new medium and long-haul international services.
Sea-Tac has been the fastest growing large hub airport in the U.S. for the past two years, with 2015 passenger traffic setting a record for the fifth straight year with more than 42.3 million travelers. So far this year passenger numbers are up ten percent.
About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 13th busiest U.S. airport, serving nearly 42.3 million passengers and more than 332,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2015. With a regional economic impact of more than $16.3 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates 171,796 jobs (109,924 direct jobs) representing over $2.8 billion in direct earnings and more than $565 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-four airlines serve 83 non-stop domestic and 22 international destinations.
The Port of Seattle is setting the course for the future with the Century Agenda. In 25 years, we will generate 100,000 new jobs and increase international trade and tourism, while protecting the environment with innovative sustainability initiatives. Learn more about how the region’s economic engine will keep powering King County’s economy for years to come!
