Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Portland-based SeaPort Airlines begins service to San Felipe (Baja California) from San Diego

SeaPort Airlines will begin direct flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) on Dec. 15 to San Felipe, a small city on the Sea of Cortez side of the northern Baja Peninsula in Mexico.

The service will also provide access to San Felipe from Los Angeles, via connection at San Diego with SeaPort's nonstop flights to/from Burbank Bob Hope Airport.

Portland-based SeaPort Airline has a some what unique route network, serving small pods of airports around the country. From Portland it flies to North Bend and Pendleton.

To book a flight from Portland to San Felipe, use a travel booking website (such as Expedia) to book an Alaska Airlines flight to San Diego, with continuation to San Felipe.

As the only scheduled airline service to San Felipe, this will also be the first international destination for SeaPort Airlines, expanding upon its current network of 23 airports across nine states.

The new route will initially operate four times each week on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with nine-passenger Cessna Caravan aircraft making one round-trip flight per day. Flights will depart from San Diego at 9:15 a.m. and arrive in San Felipe approximately10:35 a.m., with a return flight to San Diego departing at 11:30 p.m. and arriving at approximately 12:50 p.m.

"A San Felipe route has been in extremely high demand," said Rob McKinney, President of SeaPort Airlines, in a statement issued by the company.

Flights are available for sale at seaportairlines.com or by calling 888-573-2767. Tickets may also be purchased through a travel agent or online travel agencies, such as Travelocity, Expedia and Hipmunk. Current and future interline ticketing and baggage agreements with other U.S. carriers will give travelers from other locations across the U.S. and Canada the ability to book seamless connections through San Diego onto San Felipe. Special hotel rates will also be available for SeaPort Airlines passengers at sanfelipemarinaresort.com.mx through a partnership with the San Felipe Marina Resort.

"This is a significant milestone in improving the convenience for American travelers to visit San Felipe and Baja California," said Baja California State Tourism Secretary Oscar Escobedo, in a statement released by the airline. "With this quicker access, now even more visitors will be able to experience the coastal town's beautiful scenery, exciting activities and amazing cuisine."

San Felipe is located on the eastern side of the Baja California peninsula, 130 miles south of Mexicali on Highway 5, typically about a four-hour road trip from San Diego. It has long been known as a drive-to winter vacation destination by West Coast U.S. residents.
 
Known as the "gateway to the Sea of Cortez," San Felipe draws travelers from around the world and is famous for its crystal clear waters and giant natural blue shrimp. The Sea of Cortez is ideal for kayaking, diving, swimming and boasts some of the warmest waters in the closest proximity to Southern California.

Sand dunes and the region's rough terrain make an excellent environment for four-wheel vehicles, rock climbing and off-road cycling. Nearby attractions include Puertecitos Hot Springs, and the thousand-year-old "Valley of the Giants," a natural reserve forest featuring the world's largest Cardon Cactus.

For more information about San Felipe and Baja California, visit discoverbajacalifornia.com.

SeaPort Airlines, Inc. operates daily scheduled flights in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas. The company currently has an interline ticketing and baggage agreement with Alaska Airlines and is working to establish similar agreements with other U.S. and international carriers.

Story and comments:   http://www.oregonlive.com

No comments:

Post a Comment