Airlines cut flights to Tulum as demand falls short
Airlines continue to reduce their flying to Tulum, Mexico , as passenger demand hasn't quite materialized.
Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport first opened in December 2023 and airlines initially seemed optimistic that the new facility would help them tap into demand for more travelers to different parts of Mexico beyond Cancún.
"The U.S. airlines brought strong capacity to Tulum, but are now adjusting capacity and making the route more seasonal, with United and American remaining the primary long-term players while Delta scales back and JetBlue largely exits," Mike Arnot, a spokesperson for aviation data analytics company Cirium, told USA TODAY in a statement. "JetBlue probably tested the market and determined there are better options in the Caribbean for it, possibly Cancun."
Arnot's comments are backed up by data.
The U.S. airlines that served Tulum in 2025 were American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and United Airlines. Over the course of last year, those carriers had a combined capacity of 324,614 seats, nearly 54,000 fewer than in 2024.
The downward capacity trend continues as carriers adjust to market demand and assign their planes to flights that draw more passengers.
"This is right-sizing of a route, based on the supply they initially brought to the market and the demand," Arnot said. "What hasn't changed, however, is the stunning beauty that is Tulum, and it will continue to be."
It's unlikely that all U.S. airlines will pull out of Tulum entirely, but the trend suggests that capacity into the airport will remain limited as passengers prefer other destinations across the Caribbean.
Following drug cartel-related violence in Mexico last month, travel to most tourist areas has resumed. The most extreme violence and property destruction centered around Puerto Vallarta, on the other side of the country from Tulum. Currently, the State Department has a general Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" warning posted for the entire country of Mexico, but some regions have higher-level warnings. Quintana Roo, the state where Tulum is located, is at Level 2. The cartel-related violence does not appear to have significantly affected air traffic to Tulum.
This story was updated to add new information.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York, and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tulum's new airport has seen fewer flights every year since it opened
