According to an article on USA Today online, Virgin America announced this week that it will begin to service the Mexican resort destination of Puerto Vallarta starting on December 2, 2011. The airline has received its much anticipated permission to add the new flights to its current schedule from U.S. regulators, sealing a lucrative new deal that has been in the works for some time and increasing the ease with which travelers can fly back and forth between Mexico and the United States.

Starting in December of this year, Virgin America will make two flights each week on Monday and Thursday from its North American hub in San Francisco direct to Puerto Vallarta real estate. The airline already flies regularly to both Cabo and Cancun, which will make Puerto Vallarta its third regularly scheduled destination in Mexico.

To mark the new flight's addition and to lend support for a good cause, Virgin America has also announced that it will celebrate Puerto Vallarta's status as a wildlife and animal sanctuary by launching a “No Chihuahua Left Behind,” sale on airline fares. According to a spokesperson for the company, money that is generated from this promotion will go to benefit the airline's ongoing Chihuahua rescue and airlift efforts, which are vital for California shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by these dogs.

“The overpopulation of Chihuahuas in California continues to force West Coast animal shelters to look for help from shelters on the East Coast – where there is a demand for these dogs,” Virgin America explained in the article. In addition, due to delays caused by hurricane Irene in previously scheduled airlift efforts for the dogs, the airline has pledged $25 to support future efforts and local dogs for each Mexico flight that is booked during the upcoming “No Chihuahua Left Behind,” promotion, which runs through September 1, 2011.