Tulum Airport Experiences another Carrier Departure, with Discover Airlines Shifting Flights to Cancun.
Tulum, Mexico - Major airlines have been scaling back their operations at Tulum International Airport (TQO) due to a combination of infrastructure issues and lower-than-expected passenger demand.
Air Canada, a key player in the market, has cut back its operations in Tulum. The airline has eliminated connections from Ottawa (YOW) and Quebec City (YQB), reduced frequencies from Montreal (YUL) from five to three flights per week, and kept only the route from Toronto (YYZ) with four weekly flights.
United Airlines has also reduced its operations in Tulum, eliminating connections from key cities and canceling a planned route from Denver (DEN) and eliminating service from Boston (BOS), shifting its focus to Cancún instead.
Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, initially began operations to Tulum International Airport (TQO) on Dec. 12, 2024. However, the airline has now redirected its operations from Tulum to Cancún International Airport (CNC).
The Tulum airport, a flagship project of former President Andrés López Obrador, continues to face challenges as airlines withdraw despite government incentives. The airport, designed as a modern and strategic alternative to relieve congestion in Cancún and bring international tourism closer to destinations such as Bacalar, Mahahual, and the surrounding Maya region, has struggled to meet expectations.
Infrastructure issues at Tulum Airport, such as limited ground transport options and lack of roads connecting the airport to the Tulum hotel zone, have impacted traveler convenience and airport usability. This has contributed to lower demand than expected.
Other carriers including Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Avianca, Copa, Delta, United Airlines, and JetBlue have also cut routes or reduced frequencies, citing aircraft availability issues, low profitability, and operational considerations.
Broader issues affecting tourism in the area, such as sargassum seaweed on beaches and high local tour fees affecting visitor numbers, have further dampened demand to Tulum, indirectly influencing airlines' decisions.
Additional operational disruptions like the Air Canada strike have led to cancellations, worsening the short-term connectivity situation.
In contrast, Cancún International Airport (CNC) offers a more traditional and better-established international gateway with higher demand and more infrastructure support. Airlines like Discover Airlines are cancelling Tulum flights entirely this winter, redirecting capacity to Cancún.
Looking ahead, Discover Airlines will cancel its direct route between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Tulum International Airport (TQO) starting this winter. Aerolíneas Argentinas, on the other hand, will increase its service to Cancún, offering up to seven flights per week between Buenos Aires (EZE) and Cancún starting in January 2026.
The wave of route cancellations to Tulum International Airport underscores the need for improvements in airport infrastructure and passenger demand to attract and retain airline services.
1) Despite government incentives, the Tulum airport, intended as a modern travel hub, has struggled to meet expectations due to infrastructure issues such as limited transport options and lack of roads, which in turn has led to lower passenger demand and reduced airline operations by carriers like Air Canada,UNITED Airlines, and Discover Airlines.
2) As airlines like Discover Airlines cancel Tulum flights and redirect capacity to Cancún, news of travelers shifting focus to Cancún International Airport (CNC) has emerged, due to its more traditional and established infrastructure, higher demand, and better support facilities, making it a more attractive destination for both travelers and airlines.
