Mexican charter flights may come to Weslaco

WESLACO — Economic Development Corp. Director Hernan Gonzalez was beaming as he showed city commissioners a photo of an 18-passenger aircraft and its owners during a recent presentation.

That plane, and possibly another that carries 50 passengers, could be landing at the airport again soon with visitors from south of the border, Gonzalez said.

The Mexico City-based charter company Helivan is expected to begin charter flights into the airport this month, Gonzalez said. Company representatives have been talking with city leaders for several months and came to Weslaco last week to finalize plans and meet with hotel and store owners about potential packages for their clients.

“It’s very exciting, because they don’t see Weslaco. They see an airport of the Rio Grande Valley that’s close to La Plaza Mall and the outlets,” he said.

The on-demand service would bring customers from Tampico, Tamps., to the Valley and take them back. Helivan already flies in and out of Reynosa, as well as four other Mexican cities, according to its website.

City and airport leaders have been working to re-create the Mid-Valley Airport — and draw more foreign visitors — since opening a customs inspection facility there in May. The city is moving forward on extending the runway to 6,000 feet and widening it to 75 feet.

The development corporation was handed the reins to several aspects of airport development, including building 10 new hangars and promoting the site as a regional development draw.

Leaders have had to contend with pilot complaints that the facility lacks services, but the city opted not to bring in a private operator.

A presentation to commissioners Jan. 3 suggested aesthetic changes, such as repainting the building and replacing the furniture to make the facility more inviting. Leaders also may discuss renaming the city airport operations to something that sounds more regional than a municipality.

Gonzalez said work was going well as the development corporation extended its involvement with the airport, and he thought it was a natural aspect of drawing business.

The development corporation isn’t offering direct incentives to the operator to begin offering flights to Weslaco, but is trying to make the process as easy as possible, Gonzalez said.

“For us, it introduces a new customer to the area,” he said. “Obviously our relationship with Mexico gets strengthened. People who come to shop are potential investors, and we get to know a place that could be the next opportunity.

“It is very significant.”