Airlines are reducing their service to Tulum’s Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, with some carriers even halting flights, a report from USA Today reveals. The airport, which opened in March 2024, was designed to offer more direct access to the popular tourist destination. However, it appears that the airport has not yet become a major hub for travelers.
Mike Arnot, a spokesperson for aviation data firm Cirium, explained in an email to USA Today that new airports, especially those dependent on tourism, often face challenges in their early stages. “Launching a new airport is a huge challenge, particularly in a tourism-dependent area like Tulum. Cancún has a long-established presence with travelers from the U.S. and Canada, and Cozumel is also well-known for its air traffic,” Arnot said. “The growth of Tulum’s airport will take time.”
Despite these challenges, Tulum airport officials reported a strong start after eight months of operation. By August 2024, the airport had welcomed nearly 700,000 passengers, with over 5,200 flight operations between December 2023 and July 2024. Governor Mara Lezama of Quintana Roo highlighted the airport’s progress, saying, “What stands out is the growth in passenger numbers.” The airport saw its highest traffic in March and July 2024, with the number of travelers increasing significantly from around 5,000 in March to over 88,000 by July.
However, recent data from USA Today shows that several airlines have cut back on flights to Tulum. Spirit Airlines, for example, had planned 60 flights to Tulum in April 2024, which would have served more than 10,000 passengers each month. However, Spirit canceled its entire Tulum schedule by February 2024. While Spirit has faced operational issues, the reasons behind the cuts remain unclear.
Arnot offered insight into why airlines make such decisions. “Airlines use data tools to predict demand, offer schedules, and then adjust based on the results to ensure they cover their costs,” he explained. “Low-cost carriers like Spirit are quick to adjust, while larger airlines tend to be more conservative.”
Looking ahead to spring break 2025, demand for flights to Tulum remains weak. United Airlines, which had planned 94 flights to Tulum in April 2024, has reduced its service for April 2025 to just 60 flights, cutting down the capacity for travelers. Similarly, American Airlines planned 120 flights to Tulum for April 2024 but will reduce this to 60 flights by April 2025.
The trend of service cuts is not universal, though. Delta Airlines, which began offering flights to Tulum in April 2024 with 30 flights, is increasing its service to 36 flights for April 2025. Despite this, Delta also reduced its capacity for Tulum by cutting 100 seats from its April 2025 schedule.
Despite the reductions, Arnot emphasized that these changes are not necessarily a sign of failure for the airport. “For airlines, it’s about using data to find the right balance of flights, destinations, and timing,” he said. “It’s not about success or failure but ensuring the right supply of seats.”
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