Less than two years after the grand opening of Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, Tulum is experiencing a significant downturn in air travel connectivity. Major airlines from North and South America are reducing or canceling routes to the once-trendy destination, citing declining demand, rising costs, and operational challenges.
Airlines Retreat from Tulum
Air Canada has announced a nearly 30% reduction in its winter service to Tulum, canceling seasonal flights from Ottawa and Quebec City, and reducing frequency from Montreal. American Airlines is discontinuing its Charlotte-Tulum route, which had only launched in March 2024, with the final flight scheduled for February 13, 2025.
United Airlines is also scaling back, canceling its planned Denver-Tulum route and eliminating service from Chicago and Los Angeles. Additionally, Latin American carriers Avianca and Copa Airlines have ceased all flights to Tulum, citing issues with Mexican immigration authorities turning away tourists from countries like Colombia and Brazil.
Underlying Causes
Several factors contribute to Tulum’s waning appeal:
- Rising Costs: Tulum has evolved from a budget-friendly destination to a luxury hotspot, with soaring prices for accommodations, dining, and transportation.
- Safety Concerns: Reports of increased crime, including drug-related incidents, have raised safety concerns among potential visitors.
- Sargassum Surges: In 2025, the Mexican Caribbean is seeing another massive sargassum seaweed invasion, discouraging tourism.
- Overdevelopment: Rapid, often unregulated development has led to environmental degradation and strained local infrastructure, diminishing the town’s original charm.
- Immigration Issues: Strict enforcement by Mexican immigration authorities has resulted in tourists from certain countries being denied entry, leading to cancellations and reputational damage.
Impact on Tourism
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Tulum’s scheduled flight capacity is projected to decrease by approximately 23% in December 2025 compared to the previous year. This decline reflects broader concerns about Tulum’s sustainability as a premier tourist destination.
Local businesses and the tourism sector are feeling the effects, with reduced visitor numbers impacting revenues and employment. The situation underscores the need for a strategic reassessment of Tulum’s development and tourism policies to balance growth with sustainability.
