Southwest Airlines applying for L.A. to Puerto Vallarta routes

Southwest Airlines will apply this month to fly from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, along with Cancun and Los Cabos. That decision comes in the wake of the finalization last month of a new aviation agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. Under the deal, there are no limits on the number carriers that can serve any U.S.-Mexico city pair. The previous agreement between the two countries limited the number of carriers to two or three from each country per route. Southwest airlines made it's first flight to Puerto Vallarta in June 2015 after receiving approval for flights originating from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif. In March 2015 the United States Department of Transportation granted permission for Southwest airlines to begin non-stop flights to Puerto Vallarta from their Houston, Texas hub at Hobby Airport, which began operating in October 2015. An addition of Southwest flights from L.A. to Puerto Vallarta would create the third direct flight to Puerto Vallarta by the airline.