CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — The Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA) will be adding services to Monterrey, Mexico, with Aerus Airlines.
“We are thrilled to welcome Aerus and this new international service to Corpus Christi,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo stated in a press release. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our residents to connect with Monterrey, Mexico, for business and pleasure. It also signifies the growing demand for air travel in our community and paves the way for attracting more international destinations in the future.”
This will be the first nonstop international service since 1967. These services will begin on September 12. Aerus will operate four weekly flights between Monterrey International Airport (MTY) and CCIA.
These flights will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The route will be serviced by Cessna Gran Caravan EX aircraft, each capable of carrying up to nine passengers.
According to the press release, the departure times vary daily: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:10 p.m., Saturdays at 3:40 p.m., and Sundays at 11:35 a.m.
The time travel time is approximately one hour and fifty minutes, with a slight time difference during daylight saving time, which is not observed in Mexico.
The release also stated that Aerus, a recently established Mexican regional airline, began scheduled passenger operations in April 2023. This new route will provide convenient and efficient travel options for business and leisure travelers between Corpus Christi and Monterrey.
Leticia Zamudio moved to Corpus Christi from Mexico five years ago. Her daughters visit Monterrey every spring, summer, and winter break.
“When I have to send my daughters to Mexico when they are going on vacation, we have to go and leave them in San Antonio, and from San Antonio, they take a plane to Mexico," Zamudio said.
Zamudio added that these trips have been difficult and expensive for her. But after learning that there will soon be direct flights from Corpus Christi to Monterrey, she feels more at ease.
Kevin Smith, the city of Corpus Christi's director of aviation, said at least 10 passengers travel to Monterrey every day.
“They are either driving or flying to Houston to get to Monterey, so we are hoping we could get some of those 10 people to fly nonstop to Montterey and also the drive traffic," Smith said.
The aircraft holds up to nine passengers and will have two pilots. It goes straight to Monterey because a plane that size can only travel for two hours at most, and Monterrey averages an hour and 45 minutes.
“It’s a smaller airplane, but we kind of think about crawl, walk, run. You know, this is the first international flight since 1967, so it’s really important to our community,” Smith said.
And although it is a smaller plane, Leticia doesn’t seem to mind.
“It’s way better because there are fewer people. I feel like there are more problems when there are too many people on full flights. I feel that it is too much with both — to board and to get off the plane," Leticia added.
To learn more about Aerus and to book your flight, please visit click here..
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