Pittsburghers love to take trips to tropical climes, and now they have another option as American Airlines has announced nonstop service to Cancun, Mexico.

Why it matters: American has not served Cancun from PIT since 2018, and the resumption of that service underscores the strength of the Pittsburgh market and the still-increasing customer demand for air travel, particularly to leisure destinations, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

• “American Airlines is excited to announce new service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Cancun International Airport starting this December,” said Philippe Puech, American Airlines director of short-haul network planning.
• “With service to 11 destinations from PIT this winter, American is proud to offer local residents the most convenient access to our global network. As the largest airline connecting the U.S. to Cancun, with 40 peak-day departures from CUN to choose from, American is thrilled to offer the most convenient schedule for customers looking to trade their snow blowers for suntans this winter.”

If you go: The seasonal service begins Dec. 9 and operates through March 30, with arrivals and departures on Saturdays.

• Flights operate on an Airbus A321 aircraft, with departures from PIT at 8 a.m. and arrivals in Cancun at 11:45 a.m. On the return, flights depart Mexico at 12:45 p.m. and arrive in Pittsburgh at 4:10 p.m.
• Flights can be booked right now at aa.com.
• American joins Southwest and tour operators Apple Vacations and Vacation Express in offering nonstop service to Cancun from PIT.

American at PIT: Cancun becomes the 11th airport in American’s PIT network.

• The airline has accounted for 23 percent of passenger traffic at PIT this year, through June.
• “We’re delighted to see American resume service to Cancun from Pittsburgh,” said Joe Rotterdam, Director, Air Service Development. “Our longstanding partnership with American continues to provide our passengers with more options to in-demand destinations like Cancun, and we are thrilled to see American’s continued investment at PIT.”