Mexico City - A flurry of new flights to Mexico from the U.S. have been announced since late August, when the air transportation agreement between the United States and Mexico cleared the way for airlines on both sides of the border to set their own prices and fly any routes they choose between the two nations with unlimited frequency.

In this article we focus on new routes being offered by Mexico's low-cost airlines, Interjet, Mexico's second largest air carrier; and Volaris, the Mexican airline backed by billionaires Carlos Slim and Emilio Azcarraga.

Interjet

New flights linking Mexico City to Los Angeles and Chicago will begin in October and November when Interjet begins operating two new routes. Both routes will have two flights operating daily, with Los Angeles service beginning October 20 and Chicago service on November 1. Both will use Airbus A-320 aircraft with capacity for 150 passengers.

The new routes bring to 16 that Interjet operates between Mexico and the U.S. "We are very happy to be able to offer these flights under the framework of the bilateral accord with the United States," said Interjet's general manager, José Luiz Garza, who added that the agreement is "opening new opportunities."

Volaris

Volaris, the ultra-low cost airline operating the most extensive domestic route network servicing the US and Mexico, will begin offering flights between Mexico's capital and Houston this winter. Flights will depart Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Mexico City beginning February 1, 2017.

This Mexican airline said one-way tickets start at about $99 USD. That's near the price point for most one-way, midweek tickets out of IAH. Southwest Airlines also offers one-way tickets around Volaris' price during the middle of the week out of Houston's William P. Hobby Airport.

Volaris started service in Houston in March 2015 offering nonstop flights between IAH and Guadalajara International Airport in Guadalajara, Mexico. The airline operates more than 250 daily flights on routes connecting 40 cities in Mexico and 25 cities internationally.