With the facility, the Lansing airport joins the Detroit Metro Airport as one of only two airports in the state to offer public international flights, airport spokeswoman Nicole Noll-Williams said.

The flights from Lansing to Cancun are the first in what could be many international flights to popular vacation destinations and could put the airport on the map for inexpensive travel, said John Tarkowski, a spokesman for Apple Vacations, which arranged the travel package.

“Certainly there will be other opportunities in either the Caribbean or the west coast of Mexico to potentially expand in Lansing,” Tarkowski said. “We would love to grow our presence out of the central part of the state and we think we have a good chance of doing so in the future.”

Students can book a weeklong getaway to Cancun for about $600 — with hotel, travel and food included — and could save a bundle as opposed to departing from the Detroit Metro Airport and booking a hotel on their own, Noll-Williams said.

Aside from savings in the package, students can print out a coupon on the airport’s Web site to get a discount on parking worth $21.25 per week. At the Detroit airport, parking can cost about $23 a day, Noll-Williams said.

“The prices are less expensive going in and out of Lansing,” she said. “Then you add the other component of the parking that is available here at the Lansing airport.”

Trips to Cancun depart every Sunday and seats still are available on the March 7-14 trip during MSU’s spring break, Noll-Williams said.

The vacation package is worth the price of a ticket, Tarkowski said.

“It’s just one up-front price and you can really leave your wallet at home,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about spending a dime once you’re there.”

Lyman Briggs junior Derek Beekman said he would travel through Lansing for his spring break, because of the price and the convenience.

“I think it’s a great option,” Beekman said. “If it’s that much cheaper than Detroit and other airports, I don’t see why I wouldn’t.”