Tulum’s new airport is finally welcoming US flights – and it’s no Cancun

There’s a new airport option for American travelers looking to make the trek to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula – one without the crowded terminals and dense crowds of Cancun.

On Thursday, Tulum’s brand new Felipe Carrillo International Airport (TQO) welcomed the first flights of US airlines. It was an occasion marked by music, dancing and decor on both sides of the border.

Located nearly 100 miles from the busy Cancun International Airport (CUN), every part of Tulum Airport is essentially new: from the runway to the building and even the access road leading to the terminal.

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One of several infrastructure mega-projects touted by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, construction of the airport began in earnest in 2022 after years of discussion.

The airport technically opened in December, but that was only for domestic flights within Mexico.

The broader grand opening took place Thursday, beginning when American Airlines Flight 1131 arrived from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and received a water cannon salute upon arrival.

Flying to a new city is a big deal for any airline. That’s even more true if it’s a brand new airport, Jim Moses, senior vice president of DFW hub operations, told TPG in a pre-flight interview.

“Our teams have been working very hard – both with Mexican authorities and Tulum International Airport – on all the preparatory work needed to make this all possible,” Moses said.

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“All the logistics that go into it, the support for the flights that go in and out of there,” Moses explained.[It’s] just a lot of work to start a new city… a new airport.”

In addition to twice-daily Tulum service from DFW Thursday, American also launched new nonstop routes to the new airport from its Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Miami International Airport (MIA) hubs.

American also went all out in Tulum, with the check-in desks decorated with balloons and signage.

There was also a festive atmosphere at American’s departure gate in Tulum, where a press conference was held to celebrate the launch of flights to the US, along with food, drinks and lots of balloons.

And American wasn’t the only one.

Delta Air Lines’ first flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) also landed at the new airport on Thursday.

Delta had its own festivities at the check-in counters, with balloons, cupcakes and even souvenir Delta Air Lines playing cards available for passengers.

TPG’s Clint Henderson was part of the first Delta flight from Tulum on Thursday afternoon. Delta Air Lines Flight 1772 took off from the shiny new D3 gate. American Airlines was far from celebrating next door, but Delta airport flight attendants and employees were buzzing with excitement. Passengers on Delta’s first departure were treated to free margaritas, a flight attendant at the gate told TPG.

United Airlines will launch its own inaugural Tulum service from Newark Liberty International Airport (IAH) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on Sunday.

And the growth will continue from there.

United plans to add nonstops from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) later this spring.

JetBlue is also venturing into Tulum, with plans to launch service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) later this spring.

In addition to U.S. and domestic Mexican routes, Air Canada will offer nonstops to Montreal and Toronto, and Copa plans to fly from Tulum to Panama City.

Spirit Airlines hoped to launch flights to Tulum but had to postpone those plans due to fleet limitations.

In total, airlines plan to offer about 170,000 seats from Tulum by July, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium — a big jump from the roughly 45,000 that Mexican airlines flew last month.

How Tulum Airport Compares to Cancun

According to the airport’s website, Tulum’s new airport will eventually have the capacity to handle approximately 4 million passengers annually.

Even with the rapid growth early in operations, don’t expect the experience at the new airport to be anything like that of Cancun.

The older Yucatán hub is much larger and busier, with four terminals and dozens of airlines arriving from around the world.

Last year, Cancun saw nearly 4.8 million travelers from the US alone pass through customs, according to a recent report from Mexico’s tourism minister.

Tulum turns out to be much less crowded, with its single terminal and 13 gates.

For travelers who want to avoid the crowds of other passengers, that’s probably a good thing, says Wisconsin-based travel consultant Rose Gray of Fox World Travel, whose clients have increasingly complained about the crowds in Cancun.

“It seems like every day we hear people say, ‘I waited two hours for my luggage,’ or, ‘The lines to check in were incredibly long,’ or all those kinds of complaints,” Gray said. “I think this will hopefully lighten the burden a little bit.”

In addition to a much shorter wait for checked bags, the airport itself is more modern, with natural light streaming into the ticketing area through a translucent roof and more technically advanced identification verification stations at check-in and security.

Inside the hall, travelers will find floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the jetway, and modern sculpted ceilings that give a taste of the Mayan aesthetic.

The airport is also a much more convenient option for travelers wanting to visit Tulum itself and other nearby parts of the Riviera Maya. After all, historically, a visit to Tulum and the surrounding area meant a flight to Cancun and then a long drive by car or shuttle.

“I consider it a niche market, but it is a market where customers talked to us about wanting to fly directly to Tulum,” Moses told TPG. “So I think this fits incredibly well into our portfolio in Mexico.”

Growing pains probably

Still. that’s not to say the airport won’t have its own growing pains.

For starters, the airport isn’t Actually in Tulum. It is located over thirty kilometers from the city and over forty minutes’ drive from many of the best seaside resorts in the region.

Parts of the airport are also still under construction – especially concessions, with few food options for passengers other than a bag of chips – although signs clearly show that more choices are on the way.

Inside the terminal were signs for future restaurants you know, like Burger King and Applebee’s, plus local establishments. For now, however, there are only three small shops selling snacks.

There is room for a lounge, but it is not ready yet.

Finally, after the security check there are two children’s playgrounds, which should help travelers with small children.

The WiFi wasn’t working at the airport and the airport staff didn’t know how long it would take to get everything set up, but said it would get there eventually.

The air conditioning was also apparently not ready for the launch of American flights. The airport had large mobile air conditioners set up, but it was quite warm in the terminal. A gate agent said he hoped it would be resolved quickly.

Also still under construction: the airport’s Tren Maya station — a stop on Mexico’s massive new rail line that will circle much of the Yucatan Peninsula — once it’s fully open, that is. That is expected later this year.

Meanwhile, local hotel leaders have raised concerns in recent months about “uncompetitive” pricing for existing ground transportation options. Some local reports have suggested confusing ground transportation options – or prices that seem above normal for the region, with few alternative options.

Still, the airport wants to offer travelers a convenient new way to explore this region of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, especially as airlines add more flights and the airport’s operations come fully back on schedule in the coming months.

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