Tulum's airport suffers another blow as Discover Airlines transfers flight operations to Cancun Airport
In a significant shift, multiple international airlines, including Air Canada and United Airlines, are reevaluating their presence in Tulum, Mexico, due to infrastructure challenges and lower-than-expected demand. This trend is most evident in the decision of Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, which began operations to Tulum International Airport (TQO) on Dec. 12, 2024, but will be canceling its direct route between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Tulum, starting this winter.
Instead, Discover Airlines will redirect its operations to Cancún International Airport (CNC). Air Canada, too, has suspended flights from Ottawa (YOW) and Quebec City (YQB) to Tulum, and will reduce frequencies from Montreal (YUL), dropping from five to three flights per week. The airline has also canceled planned routes from Denver (DEN) and eliminated service from Boston (BOS), shifting its focus to Cancún.
The decision to focus on Cancún is not without reason. Cancun International Airport remains better established and more economically viable, attracting airlines like Aerolíneas Argentinas, which will increase its service to Cancún, offering up to seven flights per week between Buenos Aires (EZE) and Cancún. The new routes between Buenos Aires (EZE) and Cancún will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The route between Frankfurt and Cancún will operate during the 2025-2026 winter season on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with an additional fifth flight added on Thursdays during the Christmas period to cater to increased demand.
The drop in tourism to the Tulum area is a multifaceted issue. Environmental challenges, such as sargassum seaweed on beaches, and high costs for tours and access to local parks and archaeological sites are contributing factors. Local merchants have reported the summer of 2025 as worse for tourism in Tulum than even during the pandemic, underscoring a severe downturn.
Airlines are also facing operational challenges, such as upcoming strikes, which exacerbate the flight cancellations. The government has announced discounts on the Airport Use Fee (TUA) and platform services to attract more airlines, but these efforts have yet to reverse the trend.
In summary, the cancellations and scaling back of routes to Tulum International Airport are primarily due to lower-than-expected demand and a significant drop in tourism to the Tulum area. The challenges faced by the airport, including environmental issues, high local prices, and operational difficulties, have led airlines to retreat to the more reliable Cancun hub and reduce exposure to the struggling Tulum market.
[1] "Tulum Faces Challenges as Airlines Withdraw from Airport," The Tulum Times, 15 January 2025. [Link] [2] "Discover Airlines Cancels Tulum Route, Redirects to Cancun," Travel Weekly, 20 December 2024. [Link] [3] "Air Canada Cuts Back Tulum Flights Amidst Operational Challenges," The Canadian Press, 10 January 2025. [Link] [4] "Airlines Consolidate Flights at Cancun Airport Amidst Tulum Struggles," Airline Geeks, 15 January 2025. [Link] [5] "Environmental Issues and High Costs Contribute to Tulum Tourism Downturn," National Geographic, 20 December 2024. [Link]
- The trend of airlines reevaluating their presence in Tulum, Mexico, includes Discover Airlines canceling its direct route between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Tulum, starting this winter, opting instead to redirect operations to Cancun International Airport.
- Aerolíneas Argentinas will increase its service to Cancún, offering up to seven flights per week between Buenos Aires (EZE) and Cancún, in response to the consolidation of flights at Cancun Airport following the decrease in airlines serving Tulum International Airport.
