Liberia Airport

Houston airport operator envisions Hobby offering international flights in 12 markets

Studies carried out on behalf of the Houston Airport System (HAS) to examine the viability of international flights from Houston Hobby airport contemplate a two-phased introduction of 12 markets to Mexico and Central America. Southwest Airlines is pushing for facilities at Hobby to support international flights, but research conducted shows that Mexican low cost carriers VivaAerobus and Volaris would also have an interest to operate international service from Hobby. It is not surprising United has mounted vehement opposition to Southwest’s campaign, as it enjoys majority carrier status in most of those markets with its service offerings from Houston Intercontinental Airport.

Earlier this year Southwest asked Houston Airport System (HAS) to conduct a feasibility study for the addition of a five-gate terminal at Houston Hobby Airport to support international flights. Houston is Southwest’s sixth largest city based on daily departures, and the city’s geographical location makes it an ideal destination for short-haul international flights to Mexico and Central and South America. Data in the study conducted on behalf of HAS show that Houston was the point of entry for 64% of Mexican visitors travelling by air to the US in 2010. Through its acquisition of AirTran, previously domestic-only Southwest is gaining knowledge of international operations now that it is managing AirTran’s network, which includes flights to the Caribbean and Central America.

Panama's Copa pursues more rapid expansion with Las Vegas, Curacao, Liberia and potentially Recife

Panama’s Copa Airlines is continuing its rapid expansion by opening at least three new routes in June, which will increase its hub of Americas operation at Panama City to a market leading 59 destinations. As is typically the case with Copa, the carrier is evenly distributing its network expansion in 2012 to different regions with Las Vegas in North America, Curacao in the Caribbean, Liberia in Central America and potentially Recife in South America being added. Again typical for Copa, all the routes are not currently served by any carrier and Copa will initially operate them with less than daily frequency.