Hurricane Odile: More airlines resume flights to Mexico’s Los Cabos

Southwest Airlines restarted its daily service from Orange County to hurricane-damaged Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) on Wednesday, and American Airlines plans to return to the resort area starting Saturday.

The airport lost a roof at one terminal and sustained damage at a second one when Hurricane Odile smacked Mexico’s Baja California peninsula Sept. 14.

Now, the battered resort areas of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are starting to rebuild and welcome travelers.

The airport reopened to commercial flights last week for tourists intent on enjoying a beachy vacation.

American Airlines and US Airways operate more than 15 daily flights each way between Los Angeles and Los Cabos. A spokesman says flights are set to return Saturday. The airline also is allowing travelers to get refunds or reschedule tickets without penalties on selected dates.

Alaska Airlines has been flying one daily round-trip flight between Los Angeles and Los Cabos. The airline will add three round-trip flights weekly starting Oct. 23, a spokeswoman says.

Alaska and Southwest Airlines/AirTran Airways also allow customers to request a refund or reschedule their flights.

In terms of airport logistics, Los Cabos Tourism’s Facebook page advises travelers that domestic and international flights will land and depart from Terminal 2 only. Some passengers on domestic flights will be bused to Terminal 1 to pick up luggage.

The resort areas on the Baja peninsula were hit hard by the Category 3 Hurricane Odile, one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall in the area.