MAZATLÃN, Mexico (June 10, 2011) – The Pacific Coast city of Mazatlán offered a grand welcome for passengers aboard American Eagle's inaugural flight, arriving from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on June 9, 2011.
Opening the door to more than 250 destinations around the world, the new Dallas flight represents a boost of more than $180 million USD in revenue to Mazatlán's bustling tourism sector.
State government and tourism officials, American Airlines executives and airport authorities gathered to welcome visitors that arrived on the sold-out flight, Thursday, June 9, 2011. Among them: state governor Mario López Valdez; state secretary of tourism Lic. Oralia Rice; American Eagle operations director Luis Gómez; CEO of Mexico's OMA airport group Stéphan Lemoine; Carlos Berdegué, vice president of the Mazatlán Hotel Association; and others.
Marvin Diaz, Director General of American Airlines in Mexico, addressed the crowd of officials and passengers during a festive afternoon reception. Celebrating the milestone of American's 18th service destination in Mexico, Diaz pledged an ongoing commitment to the Pacific Coast hotspot: "We come to Mazatlán to make our contribution and be good partners in tourism."
The new Dallas flight affords new travel options for the more than two million travelers who visit Mazatlan each year. Offering a pleasant two-hour trip, visitors and tour providers can also enjoy connections from more than 250 international markets "“ including major Eastern and Midwest U.S. destinations like New York, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, Toronto and Montreal.
Mazatlán's scenic natural beauty and rich cultural tradition support the creation of American's daily non-stop flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, acoording to Nicolas Cano, Director of Strategic Planning of the Federal Tourism Ministry. "Mazatlán is already the sixth most important tourist destination in Mexico, and offers plenty of natural and cultural attractions alongside infrastructure to position itself among the major tourist destinations in the world."
OMA airports' CEO Stéphan Lemoine echoed his support for the destination and its growth as a top tourism hub. “The opening of this flight is a sign of confidence towards the destination," Lemoine pointed out.
"Mazatlán is a vibrant destination alive with rich culture and unrivalled hospitality on the Pacific Coast," said Carlos Berdegue, vice president, Mazatlán Hotel Association and Tourism Board. "We are delighted to begin our new partnership with American Airlines, which will allow visitors from all over the world to discover our beautiful weather, golden-sand beaches, historic center and premier resorts."
The new American Eagle non-stop flight to Mazatlán offers daily service from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), departing from Dallas at 11:45am and arriving in Mazatlan at 1:05pm. For more information, visit http://www.gomazatlan.com.
