McAllen adds a daily nonstop flight to Monterrey ahead of Semana Santa holiday

A new daily nonstop flight between McAllen Miller International Airport and Monterrey International Airport will begin March 27 — just before the major Mexican holiday week known as Semana Santa.

Monterrey-based regional airline Aerus will operate the new flight with plans to expand to twice-daily service based on demand. Aerus was founded in 2022 by CEO Javier Herrera and operates American-made Cessna aircraft that seat 12 passengers, which Herrera likened to flying on a private plane.

Herrera told the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal that the effort has been in the works for three years and that there’s significant demand for Monterrey residents to visit South Texas for business and leisure travel. 

“For the first service, it’s going to be Semana Santa, so we want to see the results, and from there, to see if we can add additional connectivity,” Herrera said, noting some of the flights are already sold out. “We are really sure that this is going to be a huge success.”

The average cost of tickets is $185 each way, but it fluctuates with market conditions, such as travel demand. There are three ticket levels as well, ranging from light travelers to those with luggage and business class. The McAllen to Monterrey flight leaves at 9:20 p.m. each night, and the Monterrey to McAllen flight leaves at 6:40 p.m. Both flights are about 45 minutes in the air and one hour of travel time. That schedule means passengers traveling in either direction will likely stay overnight.

Maricarmen Martínez Villarreal, the secretary for tourism for Nuevo León, lauded the move,  hoping to attract more visitors from the flatlands of South Texas to the mountainous region of Monterrey. 

“Air connectivity is a strategic element for bringing markets closer and expanding mobility opportunities for visitors and businesses,” Villarreal said. 

Aerus began nonstop flights with the U.S.-Mexico border cities of Brownsville in 2024 and Laredo in 2025. The newest route from McAllen is also expected to see passenger demand for a FIFA World Cup soccer match in June. 

“Regional air connectivity is a powerful tool for economic development. Every new route opens doors for tourism, investment, and cultural exchange between communities,” Herrera said. 

Before the frequency of flights, the most common way for travelers from Monterrey to visit McAllen was by driving several hours, depending on traffic conditions and international bridge wait times, which can range from 4 to 6 hours, Herrera said. 

Travelers can also book with American Airlines, but those flights often connect through hubs such as Dallas or Houston before returning to McAllen, making the trip eight hours or longer.

The company also has an agreement with Viva Aerobus, which means passengers can travel from McAllen to Monterrey and then to Mexico City or Guadalajara with a single plane ticket. 

“So you get your bag checked in all the way to your destination with Viva,” he said. 

The ability of McAllen passengers to more easily access flights to Mexico City could be key, as the city lost its daily nonstop flight several months ago. 

Local leaders are still pushing for an exemption from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision to halt Aeromexico flights between McAllen and Mexico City. More than 30,000 passenger tickets were sold for that route, which launched in 2024. 

The McAllen International Airport is estimated to contribute $1.2 billion to the regional economy, according to the city’s recently commissioned report. 

Retail sales in McAllen are largely driven by Mexican shoppers, many of whom travel regularly from Monterrey. The city’s sales tax allocation for February was already up 5.5% over the year. 

“Building these connections, making sure we maintain connectivity to Mexico, is something we’re going to work on every day,” McAllen City Manager Isaac Tawil said.