- Volaris will launch nonstop flights between Salt Lake City and Guadalajara on June 1.
- The airline's expansion marks its first Utah connection, as it aims to enhance U.S. links.
- Salt Lake City International Airport welcomes this new option for travelers to western Mexico.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's largest airport is getting a new airline, which seeks to bolster connections between Utah and Mexico.
Volaris, a low-cost air carrier based in Mexico, announced Tuesday that it will begin nonstop flights between Salt Lake City and Guadalajara, Mexico, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting on June 1, as part of its plans to expand its international network. It has already started selling tickets for upcoming flights.
The airline first began service in 2006, offering five routes at the time. It has since grown to become its largest airline in terms of passenger volume, and its plan to offer Salt Lake City service — its first connection ever in Utah — adds to the over 200 routes it now operates across Mexico, the U.S., as well as Central and South America.
"This new route represents an important step in Volaris' connectivity strategy in the United States," said Enrique Beltranena, president and CEO of Volaris, in a statement. "Salt Lake City and the state of Utah become new markets for our airline, and this connection from Guadalajara reflects our commitment to opening new gateways, expanding low-cost air travel and bringing more communities together across borders."
Salt Lake City International Airport officials celebrated the announcement, calling it a win for people with family or friends in the two cities, as well as business and tourism travel. The airline's expansion in Utah adds a second option for people seeking to fly between Salt Lake City and western Mexico.
Aeromexico, Mexico's oldest airline, currently offers seven flights every week between Utah's capital and Guadalajara, but it's the only option right now. Delta Air Lines offers flights to multiple Mexican destinations, but not Guadalajara, per the airport's flight schedule.
"Volaris has a solid reputation in the marketplace for offering ultra-low-cost flights to Mexico. The addition of this nonstop service between Salt Lake City and Guadalajara is a welcome option for our passengers seeking alternative flights at value fares," said Bill Wyatt, executive director of Salt Lake City International Airport, in response to Tuesday's announcement.
Over a dozen other airlines have service in and out of Utah's largest airport.
