Mexican low-cost carrier, Volaris is seeking approval to grow its air links into California, USA with a new scheduled link to Oakland International Airport from Puerto Vallarta. The airline already offers links into Oakland International from Guadalajara, León/El Bajío, Morelia, Tijuana and a seasonal link from Mexico City.

The budget carrier says in its official application to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for exemption authority to serve the route for at least a one-year period. “Volaris submits it is fit, willing and able to perform these services and that the services are clearly consistent with the public interest,” it said, adding: “Volaris has been authorized to serve this route, and has been (or shortly will be) designated by the Government of Mexico.”

According to its application, Volaris intends to use either Airbus A319 or A320 equipment on the route and services will commence “shortly after all approvals are obtained”. This will be its first international route from Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, which it currently serves from Mexico City, Monterrey and Tijuana.

There are currently no regular services between Puerto Vallarta and Oakland, but the route will compete indirectly with the existing flights from the popular resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast to San Francisco International Airport, a market served by Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin America.

Our analysis of Sabre Airport Data Intelligence demand statistics highlights estimated bi-directional O&D passenger demand between Puerto Vallarta and the San Francisco Bay Area, which alongside Oakland International Airport also includes San Francisco International Airport and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

The data shows a fluctuating demand in this market that has been influenced by capacity changes on the route to San Francisco International and stimulated by previous short-season Frontier Airlines flights into San Jose in December 2007 and January 2008.