After 22 years, city commissioner JJ Zamora gets to fly directly from McAllen to Austin

1 week ago 36

MCALLEN, Texas – It’s been 22 years since McAllen City Commissioner J.J. Zamora has flown direct from his home city to Austin, Texas.

But he is finally going to do so again, thanks to a new nonstop service courtesy of Delta Airlines.

“Yes, it’s been 22 years,” Zamora said. “As a student, I flew on Conquest Airlines, which was a 17-seat passenger plane from the mid 90s. That went into bankruptcy. Then TWA picked up the route between 1999 and 2002. Of course, TWA got bought out by American Airlines and that pretty much extinguished that route. But here we are again.”

The City of McAllen hosted a press conference at their airport to celebrate Delta’s new service. The airline’s regional sales manager, Kanye Harris, spoke at the conference.

“I am tickled pink to have Kanye Harris here. He’s the local Delta representative who’s housed out of San Antonio. It means a lot for him to be here today, but it means a lot for McAllen that Delta believes in McAllen by offering these three daily nonstop flights. It’s outstanding. It’s a win, win, win for everybody.”

Zamora said Delta will be flying three times a day to Austin during the week – at 5:40 a.m. 12:30 pm., and 5:30 p.m. And again, twice a day on Saturdays.

Zamora said passengers can get to Austin from McAllen via American Airlines and/or United Airlines, but not nonstop. He said the arrival of the new Delta service builds on the arrival of Aeromexico, flying nonstop to Mexico City.

“The purpose of McAllen International Airport is to connect people, to connect family and friends, to bring in new business. The more flights, the more airlines, the more competition, the better it is going to get,” Zamora said.

The press release started with opening remarks from McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos.

“I just had a quick interview. They asked me, are you excited? And I’m like, of course I am. But I think the community is excited. We’re talking about direct flights to Austin. How overdue is this? Twenty-two years,” Villalobos

Villalobos said the new Delta service is not only good for McAllen but the whole Rio Grande Valley.

“We don’t think as cities anymore, but as a region and this being the strongest airport in the Rio Grande Valley, we need to push, we need to promote. We here in McAllen go above and beyond,” Villarreal said.

Another of the speakers at the press conference was McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez.

“Wow, what a wonderful, a wonderful day. If there was dirt on the floor, I’d get down and kiss it, but Jeremy keeps his place sparkling clean,” Rodriguez said, referencing the City of McAllen’s director of aviation, Jeremy Santoscoy.

“McAllen International Airport is a crucial link in our city’s economic development future. Our airport goes above and beyond for our city, and McAllen goes above and beyond to bring bigger and better things to the Rio Grande Valley. Because this airport is for the Rio Grande Valley,” Rodriguez said.

“The Valley can now connect with the center of Texas government and business through the Valley’s preferred airport here in McAllen.”

Rodriguez said McAllen International Airport has become one of the ten busiest commercial airports in Texas. He said that is because “more and more businesses are choosing McAllen for their next great venture.”

Rodriguez continued: “And Austin is a city rich and opportunity for our homegrown business to seek outside investment and recruit new talent. I congratulate McAllen International Airport, Jeremy Santoscoy and your staff and Delta Airlines on the first day of this important service for our community. Thank you.”

In his remarks from the podium, Harris, the regional sales manager for Delta, said the City of McAllen’s hospitality goes above and beyond.

“At Delta, our slogan is, No One Better Connects the World. So, we’re really glad to have this partnership with you guys, being back here in McAllen after a 12-year hiatus,” Harris said.

“I believe the last time we were here was in 2012 and it was to Atlanta. So, we’re really glad to be back.”

Harris said Delta has seen a 12 percent growth across the state of Texas.

“And we’re thrilled to be a part of this vibrant community’s growth and connectivity, providing direct access to Austin, a premier destination for entertainment, culture and arts,” Harris said.

“Today is also a big day for Delta in Austin as we kick off our Austin expansion with not only this route, but also a new service to Midland-Odessa, and to Nashville. And we’re adding more flights to Cincinnati and Raleigh-Durham as well. Beyond the destinations we serve, it’s the people we connect that truly matter.”

Interviewed afterwards, Santoscoy, the McAllen aviation director, said the excitement in the community is palpable.

“This is a much-needed flight for our area, for this side of the Valley,” Santoscoy said. “Three times daily will really support our business community, our government, our education community. The community is just ecstatic about this new flight and so we’re really excited to be launching it today.”