Tulum's airport experiences a setback as Discover Airline shifts its flights to Cancun.
Tulum International Airport is experiencing a significant shift in airline operations, with several carriers adjusting or canceling routes due to a combination of low demand, infrastructure issues, and challenging market conditions.
One of the most notable changes is Discover Airlines, a German subsidiary of Lufthansa, cancelling its direct route between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Tulum. Instead, the airline will redirect its operations to Cancún International Airport (CNC) [2][3]. This decision was made due to insufficient demand and inadequate infrastructure at Tulum airport, such as limited ground transportation and poor road connectivity to the Tulum hotel zone [2].
Air Canada has also made adjustments, suspending flights from Ottawa (YOW) and Quebec City (YQB) to Tulum, reducing frequencies from Montreal (YUL), and operating only four weekly flights from Toronto (YYZ) to Tulum [1][3]. The airline has faced additional challenges due to a flight attendant strike, further affecting services to Tulum [4].
Other airlines, such as Copa Airlines and Avianca, have withdrawn their connections from Panama City (PTY) and Colombia (BOG), respectively [3]. United Airlines has also reevaluated its presence in Tulum, cancelling a planned route from Denver (DEN) and eliminating service from Boston (BOS), shifting its focus to Cancun [1].
The tourism sector in Tulum is also facing challenges, with reports of drops in visitors due to environmental issues like sargassum seaweed, high costs of local tours, and a general decline in tourism that some merchants say is worse than during the pandemic [1][3]. This broader downturn in tourism demand has caused airlines to question the profitability of servicing this relatively new and less established airport.
The Tulum airport was once a flagship project for former President Andrés López Obrador, designed as a modern and strategic alternative to relieve congestion in Cancun and bring international tourism closer to destinations such as Bacalar, Mahahual, and the surrounding Maya region [5]. Along with the Maya Train and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport near Mexico City, the Tulum airport was intended to be a key part of Mexico's tourism infrastructure [5].
However, Cancun continues to attract more flights, making it one of the most in-demand international destinations for the Argentine market [6]. Aerolíneas Argentinas, for example, is increasing its service to Cancun, offering up to seven flights per week between Buenos Aires (EZE) and Cancun [7].
Despite these changes, the new routes between Buenos Aires and Cancun will operate on Mondays and Saturdays with two flights per day, and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays with one daily flight [1]. Additionally, a fifth flight will be added on Thursdays during the Christmas period to meet increased demand on the Frankfurt-Cancún route [8].
References:
- AirlineGeeks
- Simple Flying
- Chicago Tribune
- CTV News
- Mexico Daily News
- Tiempo
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Discover Airlines
The decision by Discover Airlines to redirect its operations from Tulum to Cancún indicates a growing demand for travel services at Cancún International Airport, rather than Tulum International Airport. Air Canada's reduction in flights to Tulum, coupled with the airline's additional challenges due to a flight attendant strike, suggests a shifting focus in their travel offerings.
