OKC's first international flight promises economic ripple effect
- Kenton Tsoodle
- Nov 4
- 1 min read
As featured in the Journal Record
Oklahoma City's Will Rogers International Airport will run its first-ever international flight, to Cancun, Mexico, this weekend, just in time for our weather to turn cold and gloomy. Thanks to the strategic partnership with American Airlines, Oklahomans can start planning warmer winter getaways. This development is exciting for obvious reasons, but more than the warm, sandy beaches, this growth signals our city's connectivity and competitiveness in a global economy.
Infrastructure improvements, like the newly installed customs area for the international gate, accompany developments like this. The Alliance for Economic Development was proud to support airport improvements, and the benefits are likely to compound. Data from the International Transportation Forum suggests that improved connectivity in transportation reduces travel costs across the board while also strengthening trade and regional competitiveness.
Cancun flights are a potential boon to the economy and a new symbol of our status as a major U.S. city. The growth as a hub of tourism and commerce is slated to have a serious impact. OKC is a fantastic place to live, growing even better every day, and developments in recreation, travel and international connectivity are all a part of our growth.
