Southwest Airlines Launches First Nonstop Service to Cancun

By: - August 12th, 2014

Above: Cancun

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Southwest Airlines is continuing its Caribbean rollout.

The carrier officially launched its initial service to Mexico over the weekend with nonstop routes from both Atlanta and Baltimore to Cancun.

The routes, which were previously served by the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways, will operate daily.

Southwest will also be launching Saturday-only service between Milwaukee and Cancun beginning Aug. 16.

The company said it was planning to fully convert all domestic and international flights currently operated by AirTran to Southwest by the end of 2014.

“The favorite beach destinations of our Mexico-bound Customers also are great additions to a portfolio of leisure destinations where we offer a way to connect our Customers to important experiences and memories, whether family vacations, reunions, adventure, or pure relaxation,” said Andrew Watterson, vice president of network planning and performance at Southwest.

Southwest launched its first-ever international service last month with flights from Baltimore to Aruba, Montego Bay and Nassau.

Air Travel

St Lucia: Tourist Arrivals Rise 6 Percent in First Half of 2014

Above: St Lucia By the Caribbean Journal staff Tourist arrivals to St Lucia rose by 6 percent in the first half of 2014, according to data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The island received 176,017 stopover arrivals in the first half, a 6 percent improvement over the same period in 2013. The island’s success was […]

Air Travel

Jamaica, Brazil Sign Agreement on Water Resources Management

Above: the signing ceremony in Kingston (JIS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica and Brazil have signed an agreement to strengthen the former’s water resources management. The $98,000 contract was signed last week by Jamaica’s Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister Robert Pickersgill and Brazil Ambassador to Jamaica Francisco Da Costa e Silva […]

Air Travel

Cozumel: Big Increase in Cruise Traffic

Above: Cozumel’s Puerta Maya cruise port By the Caribbean Journal staff The island of Cozumel off Mexico’s Caribbean coast is off to a very strong start in the cruise sector so far this year. Cozumel received 1.786 million cruise passenger arrivals in the first half of 2014, according to new data from the Caribbean Tourism […]


Melia Nassau Beach Begins First Phase of $19 Million Renovation

Above: the Melia Nassau Beach (Caribbean Journal Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Melia Nassau Beach resort in the Bahamas has begun the first phase of a $19 million renovation plan, the property announced. The first phase is expected to be complete by November, 2014, and the resort will remain open during the redesign […]

Antigua Prime Minister Visits Italy

Above: Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne departed the country this weekend for an investment trip to Italy. Browne, who was joined by Tourism Minister Asot Michael, will pitch investors on “sustainable projects in Antigua and Barbuda,” according to a government statement. Browne will be meeting […]

Hotel Highlight: The Sweetest Perk at Petit St Vincent

Above: the Melia Nassau Beach (Caribbean Journal Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Melia Nassau Beach resort in the Bahamas has begun the first phase of a $19 million renovation plan, the property announced. The first phase is expected to be complete by November, 2014, and the resort will remain open during the redesign […]

Talking HomeAway in the Caribbean

By the Caribbean Journal staff The vacation rental market is booming around the world, as established players continue to grow and startups continue to sprout. In the Caribbean, villas and vacation homes have long been popular options for travelers, and that shows no signs of slowing down. To learn more, Caribbean Journal caught up with […]