Flights between US and Mexico expected to soar

Flights between US and Mexico expected to soar

If you’re planning a trip south of the border, you can expect to save a little on your flight to Mexico.

An agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that took effect Aug. 21 will drop restrictions on the number of airlines that can fly between the two countries, thus increasing competition and lowering fares.

Thanks to the agreement that followed four years of negotiations, U.S. and Mexican airlines seeking to fly between the two countries will only be limited by the number of slots – a scheduled time to land or takeoff – available at various airports.

“The new agreement will benefit U.S. and Mexican airlines, travelers, businesses, airports, and communities by allowing increased market access for passenger and cargo airlines to fly between any city in Mexico and any city in the United States,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. He added that the increased competition should lead to lower air fares.

Several airlines have already announced new routes to Mexico.

Kings Island to add roller coaster

MASON, Ohio

A southwest Ohio theme park is adding another wooden roller coaster next year.

Officials at Kings Island announced its latest attraction Thursday and say Mystic Timbers will be the park’s 16th roller coaster. The coaster will be more than 3,000 feet in length, reach 109 feet into the air and will top out at 53 mph.

The new ride is the park’s fourth wooden roller coaster, giving Kings Island more than 18,000 feet of wooden tracks.

The coaster will be designed and built by Great Coasters International, Inc. out of Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

This is the first major new roller coaster announcement since 2013, when it announced the addition of the Banshee, an inverted steel roller coaster.

Mystic Timbers is expected to open in April 2017.

Telecommute while on a world tour

Business travel is a thing of the past. Say hello to the adventure-loving, around-the-world mobile workforce.

Name: Pangea196.com

What it does: If you always wanted to work remotely and be location-independent, Pangea196 can arrange a 12-month, 12-country sojourn with apartment accommodations and 24-hour Wi-Fi.

What’s hot: All the details are taken care of. In 2017, you will travel to Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Czech Republic, Italy, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and more. For $27,000 ($5,000 upfront and $2,000 per month for the remaining 11 months) your accommodations are paid for, as is your travel between cities. Pangea196 also organizes networking, cultural and community events in each location. Need a packing checklist? No problem - info on travel insurance, visas and more is at the ready. But if you want Pangea196 to find you a job during the trip, don’t be silly.

What’s not: I wanted to see pictures of the apartments before signing up or asking questions. Pangea196’s FAQ page says that sleeping arrangements have professionals in mind. Each person (or couple) has a private room, kitchen access and other comforts.

This week’s Geoquiz

Q. What is the largest freshwater lake in Central America?

A: Lake Nicaragua. Its area is nearly 3,200 square miles, and it’s located in southwestern Nicaragua, roughly 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.

Combined dispatches