Record Growth: McAllen Airport Boosts Direct Destinations

McAllen International Airport in Texas has achieved a record 70% increase in direct destinations, now offering 22 daily flights to prominent U.S. cities such as Austin, Houston, Dallas, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orlando, as well as international connections to Cancún and Mexico City. This growth highlights the airport’s expanding influence and importance as a key transportation hub in the Rio Grande Valley region.

Jeremy Santoscoy, Director of Aviation at McAllen International Airport, emphasized the significance of this expansion for business travelers and shoppers alike, noting, "Our airport has seen consistent growth, adding new routes and offering competitive advantages. This is particularly valuable for business travel, as quick connections to major U.S. cities are critical."

The airport's performance has been strong between June 2023 and June 2024, with passenger traffic rising by 23%. In June alone, the airport serviced 105,519 passengers, a figure that climbed to 114,694 in July, marking an 8.7% increase. Six airlines, including Delta, Aeroméxico, Volaris, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Allegiant, currently operate out of McAllen.

Expanding Connectivity

Among the most in-demand destinations are McAllen-Dallas, operated by American Airlines with up to nine daily flights, followed by McAllen-Houston, where United Airlines operates seven flights per day.

Santoscoy emphasized the growth of routes such as McAllen-Austin, with three daily flights operated by Delta; McAllen-Mexico City, with a daily flight from Aeroméxico; and McAllen-Cancún, operated by Volaris with two weekly flights.

Additionally, he mentioned Allegiant’s interest in increasing its flight frequency, which currently includes the McAllen-Las Vegas route with up to seven flights per week; McAllen-Los Angeles, with two weekly flights during the summer season; and McAllen-Orlando, also with two weekly flights.

"We are currently in negotiations to add more destinations, which we will announce soon. The flights we offer have strong demand; many airlines have had to increase their frequencies to up to nine daily flights to meet passenger needs, and we are confident that the routes will continue to expand," Santoscoy concluded.