Delta's new Mexican connection

Marking the sixth international flight to depart from Memphis International Airport, Delta Air Lines has announced Saturday weekly service to Mexico City.

The new flight will join Delta's portfolio international flights from Memphis including daily service to Amsterdam and Toronto and seasonal service to Cancun, Cozumel and Montego Bay.

"Memphis enjoys a level of air service for a community its size that is greater than most any community in America,” said Steve Sear, Delta’s Global Sales vice president, in a statement. “From our new flights to Mexico to our long-standing and highly successful daily nonstop flights to Amsterdam, we take very seriously our role in connecting Memphis to the world and remain committed to this hub’s success.”

The new Mexico City flight will operate every Saturday on Delta's 124-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

While the new flight helps further Memphis' international service, it also serves as another commitment from Delta that it considers the Memphis hub a key destination. 

In January 2008, reports began to emerge that then-Northwest Airlines was in talks with Delta to merge. When the merger was confirmed three months later, some analysts were concerned about what Delta would do with Northwest's Memphis hub. 

But thus far, the merger has been a boon for Memphis. In June, airport officials recently celebrated its 15 year of international service to Amsterdam -- a flight that has serviced 2 million passengers and helped proved $2 billion in economic impact. 

The new Mexico City flight also strengthens the city's aerotropolis effort, which centers around making the airport an economic development engine. 

According to Chamber president John Moore, the new flight will build on the future I-69 connection between Memphis and Mexico. 

"Mexico is the second largest trading partner in the Memphis area, and this new flight will further strengthen the trade ties between our regions,” he said in a statement. “When you put together the coming I-69 corridor with the confluence of rail, river and runway here in Memphis, our city is well-positioned to continue growing trade ties to Mexico and Latin America.”

-Trey Heath