For hassle-free arrivals and departures, get up-to-date info on the Tulum International Airport project and its December 2023 grand opening. By knowing which airlines like Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus, and Delta Airlines start their new routes and where they will fly from you can navigate Tulum’s new airport like a pro.
Fly Tulum
Pristine beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, and trendy dining spots make Tulum a magnet for travelers worldwide. The current hiccup, however, is that the nearest airport to Tulum is a solid 1.5-2.0 hour journey by car in Cancun. Now that the Tulum Mexico Airport will soon be handling 5 million passengers per year, along with having a Mayan Train station inside, it will soon be a gateway to places Riviera Maya darlings like Chichen Itza, Akumal, and Bacalar.
Project Details
Officially named Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto, it will soon inaugurated and welcome around 5 million passengers annually on over 32,000 flights per year. A total of 13 positions will be designated for both international and domestic flights. A separate platform for general and executive aviation will house 28 positions, including a hangar with room for 12 executive jets.
A commercial corridor, spanning 10.5 kilometers, will bridge Federal Highway 307 and the New Tulum International Airport. The vision also includes the birth of an ‘airport city’ and a redirection of urban expansion along this corridor. The Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport will boast the largest runway system in southeastern Mexico – at a sprawling 3,700 meters in length. When coupled with the Tren Maya, you can touch down in Tulum, and then climb directly aboard for an adventure in the Yucatan region.
Opening Date
The grand inauguration for Tulum (TQO) International Airport is expected in December 2023 for domestic flights, and April 2024 commencing a full complement of International flights.
Location
The Tulum Airport is approximately 20 km (or 12.5 miles) to the south of Tulum Pueblo. It will also serve as a gateway for those traveling to Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Xel-Há, Chichen Itza, Cobá, Bacalar, Mahahual, and Chetumal. The saving of time and money on a shared shuttle or private transfer from Cancun Airport is alone worth it to fly direct to Tulum.
Mexican Army
This new airport is a civil military engineering project, envisioned as part of an expansive military city. The infrastructure plans boast numerous structures, from boarding lounges to passenger terminals. This facility isn’t just about ferrying travelers; it’s geared to strengthen national airspace security, lend a helping hand to civilian crises, and be at the frontline for dousing forest fires.
Military Base
Tulum airport is also poised to be a military stronghold in the Mayan Zone, which is nestled in the heart of the Quintana Roo state in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. From a broader perspective, this project will envelop around 1,521 hectares of the Chunyaxché ejido land.
The projected base coverage zone will be an impressive 12,000 square kilometers with a dedicated access route for combatting forest fires that slices through 321 hectares of the jungle.
Impact
The airport’s birth will require the disposal of around 1.3 million trees. According to the Environmental Impact Statement, there will be 43 significant environmental shifts (38 on the downside and 5 with potential benefits). The local wildlife and fauna, given the anticipated habitat destruction and noise pollution.
In regards to social implications, the local communities might face some reverberations too. Similar to the upcoming Maya Train project, the new airport will boost tourism and create new jobs, thereby stimulating the local economy. Real estate prices in Tulum are also expected to rise due to an influx of tourism.
Domestic Airlines
Several major Mexican airlines have eagerly mapped out their flight paths to the New Tulum Airport. With Aeromexico boasting 14 domestic flights and Viva Aerobus introducing five new routes, it’s only a matter of time before Volaris jumps onboard.
Aeromexico
The third-largest domestic airline operator, Aeromexico announced through José Zapata, the Vice President of Sales Mexico that the airline will grace the Tulum Airport inauguration. Aeromexico flights to Tulum will be served by Embraer E190 aircraft and will likely start options to and from Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Mexico City.
When combined with current routes from cities like Toronto, San Francisco, and Chicago, they’ll ensure a seamless passage to the Yucatan Peninsula from the east to the west coast. This move also amplifies Aeromexico’s footprint in Quintana Roo, where they’re already providing 221,000 seats monthly, servicing destinations like Cancún (CUN), Merida (MID), Chetumal (CTM), Cozumel Airport (CZM).
Viva Aerobus
Juan Carlos Zuazua, Viva Aerobus’s Chief Executive Officer, unveiled plans for five new routes to and from Tulum International Airport. Starting on December 1, 2023, Viva Aerobus will be the first airline to fly daily from the new Tulum Airport to Mexico City International (MEX) and the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU). Viva Aerobus will also have Tulum flights serving Guadalajara (GDL), Monterrey (MTY), and Tijuana (TIJ). For now, daily flights will only be from MTY and MEX to Tulum. Unless traveler demand increases, the other three routes (NLU, GDL, and TIJ) will each have three flights per week.
Mexicana Airlines
The government-operated Mexicana de Aviación airline is gearing up to take flight this December with The New Tulum airport as one of its main hubs. The other is Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) in Mexico City where connecting flights will be readily available to all major airlines. The military-directed Olmeca-Maya-Mexico group that owns Mexicana Airlines also will be running both airports, as well as the upcoming Tren Maya.
Mexicana ticket prices will be initially marked down by 18 to 20% compared to domestic airlines like VivaAerobus, Aeroméxico, and Volaris. During the launch phase, travelers can enjoy free seat selection, free baggage check-in up to 15 kilograms, and complimentary in-flight beverages. State-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 series aircraft will be the signature craft in their fleet. The airline’s site, mexicanavuela.com.mx, is not yet live, so the routes for direct flights to Tulum are unknown, but daily flights from Mexico City’s Felipe Angeles Airport (NLU) seem likely.
Volaris
Although they have not unfurled a specific route plan for Tulum International, Volaris has voiced a keen interest in flying to the new airport in Tulum.
International Airlines
Set to take off in late March, Delta Air Lines has taken the lead by unveiling daily nonstop services from Atlanta to Tulum. This connectivity will be amplified by their alliance with Aeromexico, along with connecting flights through Atlanta from around the world.
Delta
From March 28, 2024 onward Delta Airlines with commence daily nonstop flights to Tulum from their hub at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Joe Esposito, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, announced that this year-round, round-trip service will be operated on their 160-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Additionally, Tulum will also enhance connectivity through Delta’s close partnership with Aeromexico.
Maya Train
Tulum Airport is gearing up to be a multi-modal transit hub with Maya Train marvel having a dedicated TQO station. The colossal developments between the infrastructural projects offer an exciting alternative to the current highway system. Stretching nearly a thousand miles, the Maya Train provides easy access throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, weaving its way through quintessential states including Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, Chiapas, and Tabasco.
Tourists flying into Tulum will soon effortlessly venture between prominent tourist destinations like Chichen Itza, Coba, Palenque, and Bacalar. The Mayan train will also connect visitors to the gorgeous beaches in Xpu-ha, Akumal, and Puerto Aventuras while traveling from Tulum to Playa del Carmen or taking the ferry to Cozumel Island will be so much easier.
Announcements
According to Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the President of Mexico has steadfastly maintained December 1, 2023, for the inaugural flights at Tulum Airport. Of the four Quintana Roo airports, TQO will still be smaller than Cancún International, but bigger than close alternatives like Cozumel International Airport and the one in Chetumal.
Project Timeline
With an idea that started more than 10 years ago, the Tulum Airport Project has had many ups and downs over the years. Within a few short months, however, this dream will come true and it make visiting Tulum as simple as booking the cheapest flight.
Current Status
Exceptional Mexican workers working alongside local and federal governments, the National Defense, have ensured the construction of the brand new airport in Tulum, Mexico is on schedule. The first flight is set for December 1st, 2023, with the full-fledged operations rolling out by April 2024. Our project timeline was last updated a few weeks ago after airport progress reached an impressive 65% completion.
September 26, 2023
During his visit to Felipe Carrillo International Airport, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador alongside Governor Lezama Espinosa shared that the monumental project is currently 65% complete. They also mentioned it signifying 15,000 new job opportunities for Quintana Roo’s residents and confirmed Tulum’s new airport is gearing up to welcome an annual flow of five million passengers by April 2024.
August 11, 2023
Mexicana Airlines is being resurrected with a hefty 815,000,000 MXN ($47M USD) boost from the Mexican government with an ambition to position TQO International Airport as the reborn airline’s new hub.
June 6, 2023
According to President Lopez Obrador the Tulum Airport is shaping up nicely, standing at 44% completion. The scheduled timelines are consistent, and the latest information is that the airport will be finished on schedule.
March 24, 2023
The anticipated international flight liftoff is now set for April 2024. Viva Aerobus is set to be the first carrier to operate domestic flights from early December 2023.
December 2022
President AMLO made an announcement that the Tulum Airport Project is progressing and is already 20% completed. His commitment to start operating domestic flights in December 2023 remains the same. However, Tulum international flights along with a five million passenger annual capacity would not be ready until April 2024.
September 2022
The Cancun Sun published news hinting they expect potential delays for the impressive 15.5 billion peso ($770M USD) undertaking, citing budget and funding issues too. While the groundwork at Tulum Airport is ready, resources seem scarce to actually build it. Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatur), Ernesto Gutiérrez Pavón, By November, however, the wheels started moving, and by December, the project was back on track.
FAQ
Below you’ll find answers to our most frequently asked questions that go into detail about the new Tulum Airport’s construction status, location, and alternative flying routes.
New Airport
No, it remains a work in progress, but the ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for December 1, 2023, with Viva Aerobus being the first airline out of the gates.
The closest airport is Cancun International which connects to a multitude of global hotspots, from New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto to London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, and Paris. Taxis or private transfers from Cancun (CUN) can take around 1.5 hours, while a shared shuttle or ADO bus is normally 2.0-3.0 hours. Once the Maya Tren goes live in December, it will be the fastest way from Cancun to Tulum.
For now, you’ll need to arrive at Cancun International Airport (CUN) while Tulum TQO (not TUY) is still under construction. On December 1, 2023, domestic flights within Mexico will be available on Aeromexico and Viva Aerobus. Delta has also announced flights from Atlanta (ATL) starting on March 28, 2024.
No. Soon, but not yet. As of October 2023, the Tulum International Airport (TQO) is only 65% complete, but eyeing a December 2023 launch for flights within Mexico. For now, travelers should prepare for Cancun International arrivals and seek out transportation to Tulum such as a private shuttle, ADO bus, or rental car.
About 20 km (around 12.5 miles) south of Tulum. The Tren Maya will stop have an airport stop at TQO with a drop-off in the city center (Tulum Pueblo). For a beach hotel destination, your best option would be to take a taxi from the Tulum train station or hire a private transfer to meet you in person at Tulum Airport.