[azliam]

Allegiant wants to fly to Mexico; will Mesa get flights?

Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air said it has taken the first step toward offering flights to Mexico by filing its application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin service.

The airline’s business model focuses on bringing nonstop air service to leisure travelers from small and medium-size airports. Flights typically depart a couple of times a week to popular vacation destinations.

In a statement posted online for investors, Allegiant chairman and chief executive officer Maury Gallagher said, "Unlike other U.S. carriers, Allegiant has always been laser-focused on leisure travel and providing access to affordable, nonstop flights for those who wouldn't otherwise be able to go on vacation.

"Offering service to Mexico will provide a whole new array of options for travelers to discover world-class destinations that may have been previously out of reach."

The airline said it would announce the projected start date of service as well as the locations at a later date.

So the looming question is: Could Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport get flights to Mexico? There's one obstacle. The airport does not have a Customs and Immigration facility.

Gateway can only offer international flights to destinations with U.S. Customs preclearance. In preclearance destinations, U.S. customs officers stationed in those airports clear passengers to enter the U.S. before departure.

The process works just like it does at Customs and Immigration at an arrival airport in the U.S., but passengers do the customs process before boarding their U.S. bound flight.

Currently, the U.S. has preclearance in these airports:

Dublin and Shannon, Ireland.
Aruba.
Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas.
Bermuda.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Winnipeg, Canada.

In order to offer flights to Mexico, Mesa Gateway would need to add a Customs and Immigration facility or the destination airport would have to get preclearance capability.

How long does approval take?
Allegiant really can't predict how long the process will take. A spokesperson for the airline told The Arizona Republic that filing the application with the Department of Transportation was the first step.

Other airlines now have until mid-May to provide comment to the DOT before it determines whether to approve the application. The application would then be sent to the State Department for approval.

The airline then has to repeat a similar process in Mexico before it can finally launch flights.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/trav...ny/3540969002/