Many who have experienced winter in the Comox Valley agree that the climate is often more suited to ducks and geese than people.

With the season noted for torrential rainfall, pesky power outages and, in recent years, big dumps of snow, it's no wonder that airport figures show residents of the Valley have been flocking south in ever increasing numbers.

Starting in December the Comox Valley Airport expanded its direct flight schedule to Mexico to include Cancun and the service was an instant hit.

"Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Cancun were sold out over Christmas," said Kathy Penner, director of marketing and customer service for the Comox Valley Airport.

For the past four years the airport has had direct flights to Puerto Vallarta. Planes last year were filled to 94 per cent capacity, leading to the decision to expand the service.

"Increased connectivity of Vancouver Island to the world through Comox is one of the (airport) commission's goals," said airport CEO Chuck Fast in a press release.

"It doesn't get much better than a second sun vacation spot. In six hours you will go from rain and dreariness to sun and sand. That's about the same traveling time as it would take to get to the Vancouver airport via driving and ferry. Flying direct from Comox is the equivalent of adding two extra days onto precious vacation time and far less stressful."

Final figures for airport passengers in 2007 are expected this week, but it's fairly safe to assume that many of them will have been sold to sun-seekers.

"There are more people going in general," said Shelagh Saprunoff, owner of Traveller's Tale and co-owner of Destinations by Design. "The nastier the weather, the busier it is because people have had enough of the wet and the wind."

Saprunoff said that most people who come in to book their holidays already have a destination in mind and the direct flights are an added bonus when it works for them.

Comox Valley resident Harmony Freer has wanted to visit Mexico ever since her parents bought a condo there seven years ago. This Monday she will get her wish when she leaves for a two-week "dream vacation."

A nature lover, she said she plans to go swimming with dolphins.

"I'm pretty excited," said Freer. "I love dolphins and I can't wait to see them and all the marine life."