Key Takeaways
• Tulum International Airport to see a 23% drop in airline seat capacity by December 2025 versus December 2024.
• Major airlines, including United, American, Air Canada, and Avianca, are reducing or canceling routes to Tulum.
• Oversupply, high prices, infrastructure issues, and plane shortages drive airlines’ retreat from Tulum’s new airport.
Tulum International Airport opened with much excitement in December 2023, promising to boost tourism on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. The first months saw airlines from the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, and Latin America racing to launch new routes. Travelers from cities like Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Bogotá, and Panama City could now fly to Tulum more easily than ever before. But as the airport moves beyond its first year, a sharp drop in airline interest is sending new signals about the future of travel to this trendy beach town.
Airlines Cut Back Flights After Rapid Expansion
Just over a year after Tulum International Airport began welcoming passengers, many airlines are reducing flights, cutting routes, or leaving the airport entirely. This pullback marks a major change for Tulum, a destination that had seemed positioned for long-term growth.
By December 2025, the number of scheduled airline seats for Tulum is set to shrink by about 23% compared to December 2024. This steep drop affects travelers, workers, and businesses who came to rely on these new connections. Here is a closer look at which airlines are making changes:
United Airlines and Other North American Carriers
United Airlines quickly became a key player at Tulum International Airport. Not long after the airport opened, United launched flights from Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, and Newark. But by March 30, 2025, United Airlines will stop flying from Los Angeles to Tulum. Service from Chicago O’Hare and Newark will be paused during the summer of 2025, with Newark flights planned to return on October 26, 2025.
United Airlines is not alone in this shift. American Airlines ended its Charlotte-Tulum flight as of February 13, 2025. JetBlue, another big carrier from the United States 🇺🇸, is scrapping its summer flights from New York.
Air Canada has also pulled back, ending winter flights from Ottawa and Quebec City for the 2025-26 travel season and cutting back on Montreal routes. Montreal to Tulum service drops from five flights each week to three, while four weekly flights from Toronto will remain.
WestJet, another Canadian airline, is taking a cautious approach. The airline will keep two flights a week from Toronto and one from Calgary, much less than the ambitious plans seen after the airport’s opening.
Latin American Airlines Alter Service
Latin American airlines have also made changes. Copa Airlines will no longer fly to Tulum, with its last flight arriving on January 10, 2025. Avianca, one of Colombia’s biggest airlines, is closing its Bogotá-Tulum route, with the final flight set for July 1, 2025.
These moves mean fewer choices for travelers from Latin America and North America who want to skip the busy Cancun International Airport in favor of Tulum.
Why Are Airlines Pulling Back from Tulum?
Many people are asking why so many airlines rushed into Tulum, only to scale back just months later. The answer is a mix of business, environment, and local issues. As reported by VisaVerge.com, several important factors are shaping this retreat.
1. Supply Outpaces Real Travel Demand
When Tulum International Airport first opened, airlines quickly added new routes, hoping to cash in on its popularity. However, the number of flights grew much faster than the number of people who wanted to use them. In simpler terms, the airport had too many flights and not enough passengers. Hopes for a tourism boom have not matched reality, leaving airlines with half-filled planes and weak profits.
2. Tulum Is Becoming Too Pricey
Tulum used to be seen as a laid-back town, welcoming to both budget travelers and the luxury crowd. Over the last few years, prices for hotels, restaurants, and activities have soared. As Tulum grows into a luxury hot spot, travelers on a budget are feeling left out. Many of the same people who once fueled Tulum’s tourism boom are looking elsewhere for value.
Rising costs have made groups like families, students, and younger travelers think twice about picking Tulum for vacations. This shift has a ripple effect: when fewer people come, airlines can’t fill their planes, leading to route cuts.
3. Environmental and Infrastructure Worries
Tulum’s rapid growth has put pressure on basic services and the natural beauty that draws visitors. The area faces heavy road traffic as development spreads, while waste disposal and water systems have struggled to keep up.
Reports from local news outlets and government offices point to unreliable waste collection, overused utilities, and a growing strain on fragile ecosystems. Mangroves and beaches that made Tulum so special risk damage from overbuilding. For some tourists, these problems take away from the relaxed, “natural” atmosphere they seek.
4. Concerns About Safety and Security
Safety remains important to travelers planning trips to new places. Recently, there have been reports of rising crime and safety issues in parts of Tulum. Even if problems are localized or temporary, global news can influence how people see a place.
Travelers, especially those with families or groups of friends, often place a high value on peace of mind. Feeling unsure about safety can prompt travelers to pick nearby destinations with fewer worries.
5. Technical and Aircraft Shortages
Not all of the airlines’ decisions are tied to Tulum alone. Technical issues have affected flights across many airports. Some airlines rely on specific airplane models, such as the Airbus A320 and A321. This year, large numbers of these planes have been out of service for engine overhauls—complex repairs that take time and careful planning.
Temporary shortages of working planes push airlines to focus on their most reliable and high-traffic routes. For newer, riskier destinations like Tulum, this often means cuts.
How Are Stakeholders Responding?
Official Reaction
Despite the wave of cancellations and cutbacks, tourism officials remain upbeat about Tulum’s outlook. Bernardo Cueto Riestra, who serves as the State Tourism Secretary in the region, told reporters that these airline moves will not hurt Tulum’s long-term appeal. He highlights that Tulum International Airport still sees up to 50 flight operations a day.
This means that even with fewer flights, the airport maintains some of its connectivity. Many airlines simply adjust the number of flights, or move them to different times of year, rather than vanish entirely.
Airlines Re-Route to Cancun International Airport
For travelers affected by canceled flights, there are still many ways to reach Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Airlines are shifting focus back to the strong performer in the region: Cancun International Airport, one of the busiest and best-connected airports in Latin America.
Air Canada’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mark Galardo, explained that the company will focus more flights on Cancun, where demand remains strong. “We’ll pare back a little bit of our service there [Tulum] and really kind of double down on Cancun,” he shared in industry interviews.
Rebooking Solutions for Passengers
For travelers holding tickets on affected routes, many airlines are offering options to rebook flights through Cancun International Airport. Avianca, for example, will automatically move passengers from its soon-to-be-ended Bogotá-Tulum routes onto alternative flights into Cancun.
This move is meant to help travelers avoid extra headaches or changes to their vacation plans.
Impact on Local Businesses and Workers
Tulum’s hotels, resorts, and service workers are already feeling the effects of fewer flights. When airlines cut or reschedule flights, fewer tourists come through Tulum International Airport. Local businesses that rely on tourist spending may sell fewer rooms, tours, and meals. Workers worry about the long-term future if these cutbacks remain.
Still, with Cancun International Airport so close and road access to Tulum improving, the area expects to keep attracting visitors—just not in the record numbers airlines once hoped for.
Delays in Airport Upgrades Slow Growth
Complicating matters, Tulum International Airport is operating at only about 60% capacity. Construction work to add a second runway has been paused. While this may help slow down overdevelopment and give environmental planners a chance to reassess, it also limits how many flights the airport can handle, especially at peak times.
For more information about Tulum International Airport’s status, you can find updates and detailed statistics on the Mexican government’s official aeronautics website.
Context: Hopes and Reality in Tulum’s Tourism Story
When Tulum International Airport opened, many people expected it to repeat the tourism success seen in Cancun decades earlier. Tulum’s beach clubs, eco-parks, and Mayan ruins created an image that attracted visitors from across the world. Airlines responded by adding seats, expecting Tulum to become a “can’t-miss” stop on the Caribbean vacation trail.
In reality, Tulum’s growth has been strong, but perhaps not enough to fill the dozens of new flights airlines had planned. This gap between early hopes and market reality is now playing out as a sharp reduction in flights.
Cancun International Airport, with its long history and robust infrastructure, remains the entry point of choice for many travelers to Mexico’s Caribbean.
What Could Happen Next for Tulum and Its Travelers?
The drop in flights may lead to a more gentle pace of tourism growth in Tulum. With fewer flight options, prices and crowds might level off or taper, especially if luxury-focused development prices out regular visitors. Local officials, businesses, and airlines are now working together to adjust to changing trends.
There is also hope that these changes will force planners to think more carefully about sustainability. Balancing Tulum’s appeal with the need to protect natural resources could shape not just travel policies, but how the town develops over time.
What Travelers Can Do
If you’re planning a trip to Tulum or nearby areas, here are some steps to keep in mind:
- Check Your Flight Status: Airlines may continue to change flight schedules. Always double-check routes if you plan to fly directly into Tulum International Airport.
- Consider Alternate Airports: Cancun International Airport offers many connections and is about two hours from Tulum by road. Many tour operators and hotels offer transfers between the two locations.
- Look for Rebooking Offers: If your flight is canceled, ask your airline about transfer options under your original booking.
- Plan for Seasonal Changes: Many airlines are keeping flights only at busy times of year. Look at both summer and winter schedules, as flight offerings may change by the season.
- Keep an Eye on Local News: Updates from tourism and government sources can help you adjust plans if needed.
Conclusion
Tulum International Airport’s story shows how quickly the travel landscape can change. Airlines like United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, WestJet, Copa Airlines, and Avianca are all rethinking their presence in light of lower passenger numbers, high costs, and local challenges. The results affect not just travelers, but hotels, workers, and the wider economy.
Cancun International Airport stands out as the nearby winner, taking on many of the flights that Tulum has lost. Tulum may now see a more steady pace of tourism, with a sharper focus on luxury travel and sustainable development.
As air routes change, travelers, airlines, and local officials all continue to adjust. Watching how Tulum balances its future as a global destination with the need for careful planning will remain important for anyone interested in travel or immigration to this popular corner of Mexico. For the latest in official travel and immigration policies related to visiting Mexico, travelers are encouraged to visit the Mexican government’s official migration page and trusted sources such as VisaVerge.com.
No matter what happens next, Tulum’s blend of natural beauty, cultural attractions, and evolving infrastructure will keep it on the radar for both airlines and tourists—albeit at a pace more in line with demand and local realities.
Learn Today
Airline Seat Capacity → The total number of available passenger seats airlines schedule on flights to a destination during a set period.
Route Suspension → A temporary or permanent stop of airline flight service between two destinations due to business or operational reasons.
Overdevelopment → Excessive construction or growth in an area, often outpacing infrastructure and harming natural resources or local life.
Aircraft Engine Overhaul → A complex technical process involving detailed inspection and repair of an airplane engine to ensure safety and reliability.
Rebooking → Changing a passenger’s flight reservation to another available flight, often when original service is canceled or rescheduled.
This Article in a Nutshell
Tulum International Airport sparked rapid airline growth, but after initial excitement, flight reductions are coming. Airlines like United, American, and Air Canada are pulling back due to oversupply, high costs, and technical issues, shifting flights to Cancun. Travelers and businesses must now adjust, representing a lesson in tourism’s volatility.
— By VisaVerge.com
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