Tulum Airport Struggles as Airlines Pull Out

Tulum, Mexico — In a single day, two major foreign airlines—Air Canada and Avianca—announced they would cease operations at the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum, Quintana Roo, which opened just in December 2023. These carriers join Spirit Airlines, which has also suspended flights, as well as Copa Airlines, which has temporarily halted operations. Several other airlines have reduced their frequencies, with some even downgrading the airport to a seasonal destination.

Declining Demand and Operational Challenges

Airlines have cited low demand or low profitability—though the two are not the same—as reasons for cutting or canceling services at the airport. This contrasts with healthier performance on routes to Cancún.

Questions Surrounding the Airport’s Viability

The situation raises several concerns:

• Is the airport’s location unsuitable for serving Tulum and surrounding areas?
• Are ground transportation services to and from the airport excessively expensive?
• Do airport fees or airline ticket prices exceed those in Cancún?
• Are the facilities and services unsatisfactory for travelers?
• Is Tulum losing appeal as a destination due to security concerns or high lodging costs?
• Are immigration officials treating foreign visitors poorly?

While these factors may all contribute, the central issue could be the airport’s location. The facility, managed by Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), risks becoming another underperforming infrastructure project, following the struggles of the state-run airline, the Maya Train, and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).

A Troubled Start

The Tulum airport was justified in 2022 as a solution to rising demand in the Riviera Maya and Cancún’s inability to handle the load. However, its current trajectory suggests mismanagement or poor planning. Observers will need to monitor whether adjustments can reverse its decline.

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