Tulum Airport in Trouble: Why Aeromexico Walked Away
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 1, 2026 
Tulum was meant to be Mexico’s next tourism success story.
A brand new international airport opened in December 2023, airlines rushed to add flights, and the Caribbean resort town seemed set to rival Cancún.
Less than three years later, the picture looks very different.
Aeromexico flew its last flights to Tulum on 30 September, citing market conditions, and the wider data points to a destination under real pressure.
This analysis looks at why Aeromexico left, what is happening to tourism in Tulum and whether the airport can recover.
What Aeromexico Has Done in Tulum
The Yucatan Times reports that Aeromexico suspended all operations at Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum from 30 September 2026.
The cuts cover flights to Mexico City from both the main Benito Juárez airport and Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
The airline cited shifting market conditions, low passenger demand and a strategy to optimise its route network.
Aeromexico describes the move as temporary.
However, The Rio Times reports that its schedules show no Tulum flights filed through August 2027.
The airline told El Financiero that the suspension was due to market conditions and to maximise its route network.
From Big Launch to Rapid Decline
The speed of the reversal is striking.
The Yucatan Times notes that Aeromexico was among the first airlines to serve Tulum when the airport opened in December 2023, starting with two daily flights from Mexico City.
The early numbers looked promising.
A post by Latinometrics on Threads notes that the military operated airport quickly reached one million passengers.
Yet passenger volumes have fallen sharply through 2026.
Travel And Tour World reports that international traffic at Tulum dropped significantly during the year, with Aeromexico’s exit adding to the pressure.
Why Is Tulum Struggling?
Several factors are at work.
The first is competition from Cancún. Travel And Tour World notes that Cancún sits only about 115 kilometres away and offers far greater airline connectivity.
That proximity is a major challenge for any new airport.
Many travellers will still visit Tulum, but arrive through Cancún, where there are more flights, more airlines and often lower fares.
The second factor is the destination itself. El Financiero, as reported by Periodistas Quintana Roo, points to heavy sargassum seaweed on the beaches and higher access costs at key attractions, including the archaeological zone.
The report also links the fall in visitors to military management of tourism areas in Tulum.
Those changes have affected how visitors experience the destination and how much they pay.
The third factor is the end of introductory incentives.
Travel And Tour World notes that the end of airline incentives has been reported as part of the airport’s wider challenge, although Aeromexico itself has cited market conditions rather than incentives.
A Wider Slump in Mexican Tourism
Tulum is not alone.
Travel And Tour World reports that Cancún International Airport lost more than 845,000 international passenger movements between January and August 2026 compared with a year earlier.
Puerto Vallarta’s international traffic fell by almost 20%, according to the same report.
That suggests a broader softening in demand for Mexican beach destinations in 2026.
Hotel data tells a similar story.
Travel And Tour World cites occupancy of 62.9% in Cancún and 56.4% in Tulum, figures that would have been considered weak during the peak of the post pandemic boom.
Higher airfares, fuel costs and shifting traveller preferences are all likely contributors.
When demand softens, airlines cut the weakest routes first, and new airports with limited track records are often the most exposed.
What Happens to Tulum Airport Now?
The airport is not closing. Rus Tourism News stresses that the airport remains operational and other airlines continue to serve it, so the suspension should not be seen as a closure.
Domestic connectivity remains through other carriers.
Diario reports that Viva Aerobus, Mexicana de Aviación and Volaris continue to serve the terminal.
However, losing the national flag carrier sends a powerful signal.
Rus Tourism News notes that Aeromexico’s departure is an unusually clear indication that airlines are reassessing capacity at Tulum and comparing it with established gateways such as Cancún.
What It Means for Travellers
Passengers booked with Aeromexico after 30 September should act now.
The Yucatan Times notes that affected passengers can choose rebooking or a refund under the airline’s disruption policies.
Diario adds that the airline introduced flexible options in mid September, including protection on other flights, electronic vouchers or a full refund.
For future trips, travellers heading to Tulum have two main options.
They can fly into Tulum on one of the remaining carriers, or fly into Cancún and travel by road.
Flying into Cancún often offers more choice, particularly for international visitors.
The trade off is a longer transfer of around 115 kilometres.
Lessons From Tulum
Tulum’s story is a reminder that building an airport does not guarantee airline service.
Demand has to be sustained, and a new gateway must offer something better than the established alternative nearby.
New airports often succeed when they serve a large, underserved population or when a major airline commits to building a hub. Tulum relies almost entirely on tourism, which makes it vulnerable to shifts in visitor demand.
The Aviation Hub has previously examined Aeromexico’s strategy in the Caribbean, including its expansion to Nassau.
Its withdrawal from Tulum shows the airline is now prioritising profitable routes over presence.
Can Tulum Recover?
Recovery is possible, but it will depend on the destination as much as the airport.
Addressing sargassum, managing access costs and restoring visitor confidence will matter more than airline incentives alone.
If demand returns, Aeromexico could reinstate flights.
Airlines rarely rule out a market permanently, especially one with Tulum’s international profile.
For now, the airport faces a difficult winter.
Watching whether other airlines hold their capacity, or follow Aeromexico out, will reveal how deep the problem runs.
You can explore the airlines serving Mexico using our Airline Search tool.
The Bottom Line
Tulum’s airport was built for a boom that has not lasted.
Aeromexico’s exit reflects weak demand, strong competition from Cancún and challenges within the destination itself.
The airport remains open, but its future depends on Tulum rediscovering the appeal that made it one of Mexico’s most talked about destinations.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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