Business · Companies · 21 hrs ago
Airlines cut Tulum flights as tourism weakens
Airlines are cutting flights to Tulum, a beach destination in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state.
American Airlines will stop its Miami service but keep flying from Dallas; Aeroméxico has already suspended its flights, and Volaris plans to do so early next year.
US airline capacity to Tulum is down 72% this quarter, while capacity to the destination overall is expected to fall by about half this season.
Tulum’s airport opened in December 2023 and was built to handle 5.5 million passengers a year, but demand has not met expectations.
Tulum is losing ground to nearby Cancún, where capacity is expected to fall by just 3% this season.
High fuel costs, a stronger peso, crime, sargassum and weak demand have all weighed on tourism, while investors are looking to bring back Tulum’s luxury appeal.
The flight cuts and their economic effects will be discussed at an aviation summit starting Sunday in Mexico City.
American Airlines is cutting flights to Tulum as tourism weakens, becoming the third major airline in a few weeks to reduce or suspend service there.
The airline will stop flying from Miami but keep its Dallas route.
Aeroméxico suspended flights to Tulum on September 30, and Volaris plans to do the same early next year.
US airlines’ capacity to Tulum is down 72% this quarter, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst François Duflot.
High fuel costs, a stronger peso, crime and sargassum have hurt tourism in Mexican beach destinations, with Tulum affected more than nearby Cancún.
- Who
- American Airlines, Aeroméxico and Volaris are cutting or suspending flights to Tulum.
- What
- Airlines are reducing service as tourism weakens. American will stop flying from Miami but keep its Dallas route.
- When
- American announced its cut on Thursday; the article was published October 18, 2026. Aeroméxico suspended flights on September 30, and Volaris plans to stop early next year.
- Where
- Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
- Why
- The article cites weak demand and high fuel costs, a stronger peso, crime and sargassum. It also says Tulum has struggled to compete with Cancún.
Claudia Sheinbaum
François Duflot
Tourism outlook
Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum played down concerns about falling tourism, pointing to returning seasonal flights, added airline service and efforts to improve access to archaeological sites.
François Duflot
Duflot said weak demand was affecting travel and that Tulum had not established itself against Cancún.
Causes of airline withdrawals
Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum attributed Aeroméxico’s withdrawal to higher fuel costs and commercial decisions.
François Duflot
Duflot said weak demand was also influencing travel plans, as inflation reduced US consumers’ purchasing power.
Tulum airport opened during the government of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Grupo Aeroméxico suspended its flights to Tulum.
American Airlines announced that it would cut service at Tulum airport, ending its Miami flights but keeping its Dallas route.
Volaris plans to suspend its flights to Tulum.
The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association aviation summit is due to begin in Mexico City.
- American Airlines
- Will stop flying from Miami to Tulum but keep its Dallas route
- Aeroméxico
- Suspended Tulum flights on September 30
- Volaris
- Plans to suspend Tulum flights early next year
- US airline capacity
- Down 72% this quarter, according to François Duflot
- Tulum airport
- Opened in December 2023; built to serve 5.5 million passengers a year
- Cancún capacity
- Down 3%, compared with Tulum’s roughly 50% seasonal reduction
What people are saying
Undoubtedly, weak demand plays a role, as US consumers are probably reviewing their travel plans as inflation continues to erode their purchasing power.
The difference between the two airports shows that weak travel demand is not the only factor and that Tulum has failed to establish itself against Cancún.
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