While most of the U.S. is just about to enter the hot-weather months, airlines are already planning ahead to the period when many want to get away from the winter blues with a trip to warmer parts of the world.
United Airlines (UAL) recently announced a spate of new flights to Australia, Thailand and Vietnam that will launch in October 2025 while American Airlines (AAL) is positioning a new route to Hawaii as a way to “help Chicagoans escape the cold.”
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‘Destination for travelers in search of tropical and relaxing getaways’
On Dec. 3, the Fort Worth-based airline will be adding another sunny destination and its 30th in Mexico: Puerto Escondido on the Oaxacan Coast. The service from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) will run twice a week on an Embraer 175 (ERJ) throughout the year on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
“Puerto Escondido is quickly becoming a top destination for travelers in search of tropical and relaxing getaways, and we are confident that our new service from Dallas-Fort Worth will offer our customers the opportunity to experience a unique part of Mexico,” José A. Freig, American’s vice president of international, contact center operations and service recovery, said in a statement.
Related: Is another part of Mexico becoming the ‘next Tulum?’
The airline has set its sights on the country’s southern neighbor with a number of new routes over the last year: a separate flight from Dallas to the Tampico port city in the northeastern Tamaulipas state launched in March 2025 while a new route from Oklahoma City to Cancún will start running in the coming November.
While still not as well-known as the larger Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido has been experiencing a boost in popularity since the 2020 pandemic in particular.
Puerto Escondido is a Mexican port city along the Oaxacan coast.
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‘A hidden gem known for its beaches’: Travel to Puerto Escondido continues to rise
According to statistics provided by the Mexican government, the number of international arrivals has been increasing by approximately 20% for every year following 2021. Some have named it as the beach town that could see the kind of meteoric popularity that the Quintana Roo Mayan town of Tulum saw in the late 2010s.
As it is located a three-hour drive from Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido currently attracts a specific type of off-the-beaten-parth and luxury-minded traveler.
“Puerto Escondido is a hidden gem known for its beaches, nightlife and more,” American writes in describing its new destination. “From surfing and sunbathing to delectable seafood, Puerto Escondido has something for all kinds of travelers looking for a winter escape.”
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Prior to the global travel uncertainty unleashed by the current administration’s back-and-forth on tariffs, airlines have been forecasting a year of very strong demand and strong U.S.-Mexico travel demand in particular.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) has also added a second daily flight from Boston to Cancún as well as launching new flights from Austin to both Cancún and Cabo San Lucas. This spring, United became the first airline to connect the U.S. with Puerto Escondido with a flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston that it started running on April 5.
The latter is also run on an Embraer 175 in partnership with United Express partner Mesa Airlines.
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