Customs area will accommodate flights from OKC to Cancún

As featured in the Journal Record

Beginning in November, American Airlines will offer direct flights from Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) to Cancún, marking the first commercial international flight out of Oklahoma City's airport. This new route holds significant promise for economic growth.

Thanks to a strategic partnership with American Airlines, OKC is continuing to improve the travel experience at Will Rogers International Airport. An expanded customs area is under construction on the terminal's lower level and will feature a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoint, expected to open by fall 2025. The Alliance, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust, is also managing a $2.5 million grant program to help recruit additional international flights.

Improved air service is linked to economic growth, with travel experts estimating as much as a 1.5% increase in local GDP. OKC could also serve as a new hub for travelers from rural communities who currently drive to DFW or other major airports. Increased hotel stays, restaurant visits, and business patronage are expected to follow. According to the National Academies Press, every 10% increase in passenger traffic can boost total employment by 0.9% and service-sector employment by 1.1%, indicating sustainable job growth both at the airport and across the city.

Read the rest of the column in the Journal Record.

Read More