Mexico City's Interjet will become the 17th international airline to offer service at McCarran International Airport today when its inaugural flight from Mexico City’s Toluca Airport arrives tonight.
A contingent from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Latin Chamber of Commerce met with airline executives today before the flight. Interjet will operate twice weekly from Toluca.
McCarran now has 44 flights a week to and from three Mexican destinations on four air carriers.
For Interjet, Las Vegas became the airline’s fifth U.S. gateway destination, joining Miami, New York, San Antonio and Orange County, Calif.
Mexico is the second-largest provider of international visitors to Las Vegas behind Canada. In 2011, 332,000 people arrived at McCarran on flights from Mexico.
Using twin-engine A320 jets, Interjet offers some unusual features and services, including only 150 seats on planes that normally are configured for more than 175, transferable ticket purchases, women-only restrooms on planes, a take-off and landing camera tied into the inflight entertainment system and unrestricted 20 percent discounts year-round for senior citizens.
The number of international carriers at McCarran will dip back to 16 next month when Philippine Airlines discontinues flights from Manila.