Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - After already making huge strides in the Mexico market in the past two years, Southwest Airlines continued to open the market further Sunday by introducing the first flights to Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Los Cabos from Los Angeles International Airport.

These are the first routes being put into operation since the signing of the bilateral agreement between the two countries, with one daily nonstop offered to Puerto Vallarta and two non-stops each to Los Cabos and Cancun.

"This is a great day for us. To think we're just a few months into our third year of international travel and we're able to open this route, it's exciting for the company," said Southwest Vice President of Finance Paul Cullen. "It continues to show the amazing growth opportunity that Mexico represents for us and the strong demand."

As the near-capacity plane set down in Puerto Vallarta, the passengers were greeted with a fire-engine water arch salute and an airport employee with the perfect greeting.

"Are you ready to go to the beach and drink tequila, passengers?"

That qualified for most passenger applause for the day until the crowd began to deplane, only to be greeted by margaritas and a happy serenade from an adorably talented child mariachi band.

"This is the kind of stuff that makes Southwest special," said one U.S. passenger taking in the music, in no rush to get to the customs line. "I have been to Cancun and Los Cabos and you don't see this kind of greeting. It's clear this influx of tourists and confidence means a lot to the folks here in Puerto Vallarta."