Allegiant Air lays groundwork to begin international flights: First destination? Mexico

Discount carrier Allegiant Air is going international, with plans to begin service to Mexico.

The Las Vegas-based airline on Monday filed an application with the  U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to offer Mexico flights.

Allegiant, which specializes in cheap nonstop flights to warm-weather vacation destinations from smaller cities, did not disclose which destination cities it will fly to in Mexico or from which U.S. airports. The airline also did not provide a timetable for beginning service.

 "Offering service to Mexico will provide a whole new array of options for travelers to discover world-class destinations that may have been previously out of reach,"  Allegiant CEO Maury Gallagher said in a statement.

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Allegiant has had Mexico on its radar for years. A 2013 report from industry researcher CAPA (Centre for Aviation) said Allegiant had planned to offer flights from Las Vegas to Mexico the following year. Destinations mentioned at the time: Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.

The airline already offers charter flights to Cancun from Pittsburgh and Indianapolis through vacation package company Apple Vacations.

If and when Allegiant begins flying to Mexico, it will have plenty of competition to Mexico, as most major U.S. airlines already offer flights to the country's top vacation spots.