The Oaxaca airport (code-designated OAX) has several daily flights that connect with Mexico City and other Mexican and international destinations. Many of the Mexico City flights allow same-day connections between Oaxaca and many U.S. gateways.

Several international and domestic carriers provide service to OAX including: Continental Airlines (toll-free Mex. tel. 800/900-5000, www.continental.com); Mexicana Airlines (toll-free Mex. tel. 800/502-2000, www.mexicana.com); Aeroméxico (reservations tel. 951/516-1066, flight information tel. 951/511-5055, www.aeromexico.com); Mexicana Airlines affiliate Click (reservations tel. 800/125-5425, www.clickmx.com); and Aviacsa Airlines (information and reservations toll-free Mex. tel. 800/006-2200, www.aviacsa.com).

Alternatively, light charter airlines (in the general aviation terminal, the building to the right as you face the main terminal) connect Oaxaca City with various points within Oaxaca.

Arrival transportation for the six-mile (10-km) trip into Oaxaca City is easy. Buy tickets at the booth at the far right end of the terminal as you exit. Fixed-fare colectivo (shared taxi) runs about $3.50 per person for downtown ($7 to north-side Hotels Misión de los Angeles, Fortín Plaza, and Victoria). For the same trip, a taxi especial (private taxi) runs about $15 for four persons; larger GMC Suburbans cost $28 for up to 8 persons. No public buses run between the airport and town. Car rental is also an option from the airport

For departure, save taxi money by getting your colectivo airport transportation ticket ahead of time, at Transportacion Terrestres (on the west side of Plaza Alameda de León, across from the cathedral, tel. 951/514-4350, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–8 p.m. Mon.–Sat.).

Furthermore, keep enough dollars or pesos for your $12 international departure tax (which may be collected in Mexico City) if your air ticket doesn’t already cover it. If you lose your tourist permit, take proof of arrival date in Mexico, such as a stamped passport, airline ticket, or copy of lost permit, to airport Migración (tel. 951/511-5733, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Mon.–Fri.) a minimum of several hours prior to departure from Mexico.