AeroMexico Launches Mexico Service at Ontario International Airport.

Business Editors/Aviation & Travel Writers

ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2000

AeroMexico, Mexico's largest airline, begins roundtrip service three times a week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday between Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Guadalajara and Mexico City, starting tonight.

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), ONT's parent agency, will host a special event tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at ONT's Terminal 2--Gate 212 to commemorate start of service.

The boarding gate area will be decorated in a festive Mexican theme. A mariachi band and folklorico dancers will entertain federal, state and local elected officials; business leaders; ONT-wide employees; members of local nonprofit organizations that support ONT's growth and development; owners of leading travel agencies; and airport officials.

AeroMexico will operate an MD-82 aircraft (seats 136-140 passengers) with departures from ONT's Terminal 2 and arrivals at ONT's International Arrivals Terminal.

Flight No. 459 is scheduled to depart ONT at 11:55 p.m., arriving in Guadalajara at 4:55 a.m. and continuing to Mexico City for a 7:40 a.m. arrival. From Mexico City, flight No. 458 will depart at 6 p.m., arriving in Guadalajara at 7:45 p.m., with final arrival at ONT at 10:30 p.m.

Miguel Contreras, a member of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners who participated on two air-service development delegations to AeroMexico's headquarters in Mexico City, said: "We are delighted international air service will begin this holiday season at Ontario International Airport.

"This new route continues to demonstrate LAWA's commitment to Ontario and the Inland Empire to market our state-of-the-art facilities at ONT. This will help meet the growing demand for air service between Mexico and Southern California and will bring substantial economic benefits to the Inland Empire."

Dr. Warren Valdry, also a member of the Airport Commission, said, "We are very pleased with the start of this new service and will do everything possible to ensure AeroMexico is successful with this new Mexico route originating out of Ontario International Airport."

Lydia H. Kennard, LAWA executive director, said: "This is a big step in Los Angeles World Airports' efforts to take a regional approach in meeting Southern California's air travel demand by encouraging its distribution throughout the region. We will do everything possible to ensure AeroMexico's success at Ontario International Airport."

City of Ontario Mayor Gary Ovitt said: "Ontario and the entire Inland Empire continue to experience unprecedented growth in our business, residential and tourism areas. ONT gives AeroMexico the ideal airport to tap into this steadily growing market."

"This new route capitalizes on the solid economic growth of the Inland Empire over the past five years, which is driving both business and leisure demand in this market," said Rolf Hoehn, AeroMexico's regional manager.

"We believe that the start-up of Ontario, which is AeroMexico's third California gateway city and a convenient alternative to LAX, will contribute to the further growth of the area."

Debbie Graham, president of the Friends of ONT, a long-established organization of business and community leaders who support ONT operations, said: "The Hispanic population is one of the fastest-growing segments in the Inland Empire. Air service connections between our region with Mexico is essential to supporting this growth."

With the ONT-Guadalajara-Mexico City route, AeroMexico will have 12 gateways into the United States, including three in California (Los Angeles, San Diego and Ontario), with service to 80 U.S. and Canadian destinations. AeroMexico also serves 43 cities in Mexico and six countries in Europe and South America.

An international air service study conducted in 1999 identified Mexico as a potential market for ONT. The study -- commissioned by LAWA and the City of Ontario -- was conducted by SH&E International Transport Consultancy, a private transportation consulting firm. LAWA and City of Ontario officials presented the results of the study in follow-up meetings with AeroMexico executives in both Mexico and Ontario.

ONT -- located 35 miles east of Los Angeles -- is part of LAWA's four-airport system, which includes Los Angeles International, Van Nuys and Palmdale Regional Airports.