There appears to be good news for travelers heading to Mexico’s tourist hotspot Tulum.
Sales of flights to the region’s new international airport have begun and the service looks set to start on December 1.
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Previously, travelers visiting Tulum had to fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN), about two hours north along the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, and hire a taxi, take a bus or rent a car.
The new Tulum International Airport (TQO) is expected to open next spring. However, as Thrifty Traveler first noted, Aeromexico and Viva Aerobus flights are already on sale from Mexico, although passengers traveling from the US can book a trip to the airport with a connection.
The first flight to Tulum will come from Viva Aerobus, arriving at 11:15 a.m. from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), the secondary hub in Mexico City, according to Cirium data. Aeromexico’s flight from Mexico City, this one from Mexico City International Airport (MEX), arrives at 11:50 AM
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Aeromexico will operate a second frequency later today, while Viva Aerobus will offer additional services from Mexico City’s main airport throughout the month, along with Monterrey International Airport (MTY), Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) and Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) . .
It was not immediately clear when U.S. airlines would be able to fly to the new airport. At the time of publication, no other carriers have added services to TQO until the end of their schedule.
Notably, the Federal Aviation Administration recently returned Mexico to the highest level of aviation safety certification, paving the way for airlines to add new flights and routes between the US and its southern neighbor, and for US airlines to codeshare with Mexican airlines. Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico are members of the SkyTeam alliance and regularly operate codeshares as part of a joint venture.
For now, flights are available through connections with Delta and Aeromexico, giving American travelers a new way to reach Tulum’s famous beaches and historic Mayan sites just in time for the holidays.