The Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved John Wayne Airport’s request to lease space to Mexico-based airliner Interjet, bringing the airport closer to expanding its international service offerings.
The move came shortly after Interjet passed a Sept. 4 noise test on the aircraft it intends to use at JWA. The airline now is awaiting federal approvals, which a JWA spokesperson said are expected to come soon.
Interjet believes it can begin service from Orange County to Mexico City and Guadalajara in mid-October.
Interjet would join AirTran Airways in offering Mexico service from JWA. AirTran began offering daily service to Cabo San Lucas and Mexico City in June.
AirTran received two of the three incentive packages that were offered to airlines by the airport to help bring Mexico service to John Wayne.
Interjet was approved to receive the third package for its Guadalajara service.
The package includes a $300,000 rent break for the first year of operation. Airlines were required to offer nonstop routes to Mexico with an average of five flights per week to qualify for the incentives.
Canada-based airline WestJet also offers international service from John Wayne, with service to Vancouver and Calgary that began last year.
