Flights between John Wayne Airport and Mexico are expected in about a year following the opening of its new terminal this November.
Airport officials are talking to international carriers, including some airlines that already serve JWA with domestic flights and also have routes to Mexico, Central America and other destinations.
“A number of our existing carriers offer service to Mexico,” said Courtney Wiercioch, deputy airport director of public affairs. “We’re hopeful for service to Mexico within the next 12 to 18 months.”
Mexico would appear to be a good fit for the airport. Orange County is home to a big population of immigrants from Mexico, which also draws visitors to its tourist destinations.
Initial international flights at JWA are likely to serve the tourism segment. That would bring the potential to boost traffic to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, the beaches and other Orange County attractions, as well as to tourist destinations in Mexico.
JWA isn’t able to handle longer-haul flights to cities in Asia, Europe, Africa or Australia because its runways aren’t long enough.
The airport’s new terminal—Terminal C—opens Nov. 14 and will include a U.S. Customs and Border Protection gate and baggage area. Customs and Border Protection are needed in order to bring international flights to JWA.
The airport is designated a “user fee” airport, meaning it will pay for the Customs and Border Protection agents as needed.
Customs and Border Protection is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
As the number of international passengers increases at the airport, it could become a “point of entry” airport, meaning the government would pick up the tab for the customs and border services.
The only international carrier the airport has now is Canada-based WestJet.
WestJet launched nonstop flights be-tween Vancouver and JWA in May, followed by direct service to Calgary in June.
Passengers on those flights are cleared by customs and immigration agents upon arrival in Canada. That’s allowed under an agreement between the U.S. and Canadian governments. The pact does not extend to most international destinations.
Air Canada operated at the airport for about six months before shutting down its routes last year.
