Budget and low-cost airlines are finding their way to Mexico. There are many airlines that offer discounted domestic flights between Mexican cities, as well as international flights to and from the US, previously only accessible via bus lines or at much higher fares via traditional airlines.

LIVE AEROBUS

The low-cost airline connects the General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MTY) in Monterrey, Mexico, with a handful of domestic Mexican locations and later this year with Austin, Texas. Viva Aerobus, which is partly owned by Ryanair, started operations in November 2006.

AVIACSA

Aviacsa operates flights from Monterrey and Mexico City to four US cities: Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as extensive domestic services from its main hubs in Monterrey, Mexico City, Guadalajara and León.

AEROCALIFORNIA

Aero California is a Mexican airline headquartered in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with a main hub at the Manuel Márquez de León International Airport. The no-frills airline serves 19 destinations in Mexico City, including Chihuahua, Guadalajara, La Paz, Los Mochis, Mazatlán, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla, Tijuana and more.

SOUL OF MEXICO

Aerolíneas Mesoamericanas (or ALMA de México) is one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Mexico. It is headquartered in Guadalajara and operates services to more than 18 domestic destinations, with future plans for international services to the US.

VOLARIS

Volaris is a low-cost airline based in the city of Toluca, Mexico. Its fleet includes 13 Airbus A319-100 aircraft and serves several national destinations, including Aguascalientes, Ciudad Juárez, Culiacán, Mérida, Mexicali, Toluca, Villahermosa.

SPIRIT

Spirit Airlines currently flies to 37 destinations in Central America, the Caribbean and the United States. The low-cost airline, based in Miramar, Florida, connects Detroit and Fort Lauderdale with Cancun, Mexico.

BORDER

The Denver-based low-cost airline offers extensive service to Mexican tourist cities. From Denver International, Frontier flies to Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Frontier offers direct point-to-point service to and from Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, St. Louis, Kansas City, San Diego, and Salt Lake City.